The Flower Mound Town Council recently approved a measure to formalize a new Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Phase Zero program, and groundbreaking partnership with the University of North Texas that will exclusively benefit Flower Mound businesses. The goal of Phase Zero is to help Flower Mound small businesses, primarily in the medical technology field, effectively compete for federal SBIR and STTR grants with the assistance of experts at the University of North Texas, a public research university that is home to Discovery Park, which specializes in research, technology development and entrepreneurship. Through this partnership, the Town will invest in local businesses by enabling them to develop concepts that could lead to commercialization, and ultimately help their businesses expand and become more successful. Interested Flower Mound businesses can submit an application to the Town for review by a selection committee. Applicants approved by the Town can receive up to $5,000 to help defray the costs of preparing a SBIR/STTR Phase 1 proposal. The University of North Texas will provide businesses participating in the program with access to professors and other resources in the field of study to help strengthen the grant application. Check back for more information.