Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) / Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR) Programs

All Federal agencies with an annual extramural R&D budget exceeding $100 million must have a SBIR program that funds competitive proposals received from small businesses. In addition, the STTR program was established to more strongly encourage small businesses to seek out partnerships with FFRDCs and universities.

As an FFRDC, ORNL can partner with small businesses pursuing research funding from any Federal agency's SBIR and/or STTR Program. The success rate of small businesses that choose to partner with ORNL on SBIR proposals is more than 200% of the overall proposal acceptance rate.

The most successful SBIR and STTR partnerships with ORNL have been those that were initiated before a proposal is submitted to a Federal agency. If the partnership is initiated in time, ORNL will provide the small business with a "Letter of Intent to Partner". This "Letter" can be submitted as part of the small business proposal and provides credibility for any claims of access to special ORNL facilities referred to in the proposal. In addition to the "Letter", the small business will be provided with a one- page listing of tasks and an estimated ORNL budget.

See Tennessee SBIR Proposal Assistance Center

For further information please contact the ORNL Economic Development Associate