The SBIR/STTR Diversity Outreach

The SBIR/STTR Diversity Outreach

NSF staff are exploring ways to increase the number of proposals from women and underrepresented minorities to the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.  See the bottom of this page for Small Business Administration definitions of “socially and economically disadvantaged small business” and “woman-owned small business.”

We encourage all entrepreneurs and technologists who are considering applying for an NSF SBIR/STTR grant to learn more about the SBIR/STTR programs and how small businesses are using these grants to build innovative, successful technology companies.  A good place to begin is by reading the current SBIR and STTR solicitations:

SBIR solicitation (http://www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/sbir/stop.jsp)
STTR solicitation (http://www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/sbir/stop2.jsp)

If you have specific questions about a program, please contact the NSF representatives:

Cheryl Albus at (calbus@nsf.gov)
Juan Figueroa at (jfiguero@nsf.gov)

If you have any suggestions about how to increase the participation of women and underrepresented minorities in NSF SBIR/STTR programs, please contact Cheryl, Juan, or one of the following members of our Advisory Committee's subcommittee on outreach activities.  We are particularly interested in collaborating with partner organizations to help spread the word about the SBIR/STTR programs to women and underrepresented minorities in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.  Our Advisory Committee contacts are:

Penny Pickett -- Ironwood-East@cox.net
Karen Kerr -- kkerr@agile-equities.com
Tom Knight -- info@invistics.com

Definitions – According to the Small Business Administration (SBA) the definitions for socially and economically disadvantaged company and woman-owned are found below:

Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Small Business -- A socially and economically disadvantaged small business concern is one that is at least 51 percent owned by one or more socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more such individuals. "Control" in this context means exercising the power to make policy decisions. "Operate" in this context means being actively involved in the day-to-day management.

Woman-Owned Small Business -- A small business concern that is at least 51 percent owned by a woman or women or in the case of any publicly owned business, at 51 percent of the stock of which is owned by women, who also control and operate it. "Control" in this context means exercising the power to make policy decisions. "Operate" in this context means being actively involved in the day-to-day management.

NSF Awards to Socially and Economically Disadvantaged and Woman-Owned Small Businesses for Fiscal Years 2003 -2007:

FY 2003
SBIR Phase I
SBIR Phase II
STTR Phase I
STTR Phase II

FY 2004
SBIR Phase I
SBIR Phase II
STTR Phase I
STTR Phase II

FY 2005
SBIR Phase I
SBIR Phase II
STTR Phase I
STTR Phase II - None

FY 2006
SBIR Phase I
SBIR Phase II
STTR Phase I
STTR Phase II

FY 2007
SBIR Phase I
SBIR Phase II
STTR Phase I
STTR Phase II