Partners

Partner Programs: SBIR

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) / Small Business Technology Transfer

Manufacturers seeking to leverage their internal R&D funding should consider applying for federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) funding.  Almost $2.4B a year is available via the SBIR route and eligible companies apply for several reasons:

• An estimated “hurdle rate” of 20% to 50% for SBIR funding alone – typically $500,000 to $1MM over 2-4 years;
• Opportunities for  “unsolicited proposal” as grants or “build to spec” contracts depending upon the agencies;
• Companies can then become the sole source provider to contract agencies and their primes;

MEP centers can help companies increase their chances for success by partnering in the application and technical performance of the SBIR/STTR awards.

SBIR/STTR awardees can benefit by partnering with MEP centers as well including help with.

• Design for manufacturability to improve quality, performance and reduce costs to market;
• Developing manufacturing strategies that lower capital costs and time to market and improve your Phase II award chances;

Meeting quality system requirements, certifications or other supply chain mandates.

Company Experiences

Pilgrim Screw Corporation, a 75 year-old manufacturer of fasteners and screws started with SBIR in 2000. Pilgrim developed a specialized fastener for DOD Navy aircraft with $800,000 in support, funding part of the company’s resurgence in 2001. RIMES, the local MEP center, has provided assistance to Pilgrim across a number of areas including lean manufacturing, strategic planning, and quality systems.

Pro-Tech Services, Inc. is an 18 year-old electronics manufacturer of diagnostic sensors for the sleep medicine field. It originally engaged the Washington Manufacturing Services (WMS), the local MEP center, to update its ERP system in 2003 and, prior to that, was involved in a consortium project with WMS. In 2005, the company won $300,000 in funding for two projects, developing a new product and a software enhancement for an existing product.

SBIR Programatic Activities

Alabama: Attendees at a recent Alabama Technology Network SBIR funding course learned how to tap federal R&D dollars. The event, sponsored by NASA's Southeast Regional Technology Transfer Center and held at Mobile's University of South Alabama campus, drew entrepreneurs and attendees from an assortment of industries along the gulf coast.

Montana: The Montana Manufacturing Extension Center (MMEC) is working with SBIR clients. MMEC, with TechLink, a DoD technology transfer center, has field engineers providing SBIR assistance, and with the Department of Agriculture is collaboratively working on a Phase III project. MMEC’s MilTech program works with several DoD SBIR clients in the Northwest on technology deployment and DoD procurement

New York: High Technology Rochester and Insyte Consulting, two regional offices of the NYMEP, helped firms with SBIR awareness building, opportunity identification, and training on the application process and content through seminars and individual firm assistance.

Pennsylvania: Over the past three years, the Catalyst Connection, the Pittsburgh MEP Center, has collaborated with the SBIR program, touching several hundred firms in outreach and training, and has assisted about 50 proposal efforts. They’ve partnered with the SBA’s Federal State and Technology (FAST) program to form the Innovation Partnership, which helps early-stage technology firms to secure federal funding opportunities.

Additional Resources & Websites