Until recently, the National Institutes of Health did not provide commercialization assistance in Phase III. The NIH SBIR Office now offers the following assistance programs.
The SBIR Niche Assessment Program is available to eligible Phase I awardees in fiscal years (FY) 2007 and FY 2008. Each year the NIH selects 75 awardees who are assessed by Foresight Science and Technology. Their Technology Niche Analysis (TNA™) provides the company with a report that specifies:
- the needs and concerns of end-users that drive the competitive opening in the Market.
- competing technologies and products.
- the competitive advantage of the technology.
- who the key competitors are likely to be.
- the likely price customers will pay.
- what will drive the market.
- the key standards, regulations, and certifications influencing buyer acceptance.
- the market size and what share should be sought.
- the potential customer, licensee, investor, or other commercialization partner.
- a commercialization strategy that includes tasking and a schedule for implementation.
If you are interested in participating in the program, complete the registration form available: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/sbir_participation_form_2007.doc (Word)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/sbir_participation_form_2007.pdf (PDF)
Primary contact - Kim McGrath, Foresight: 401-273-4844 X15; setup@foresightst.com .
Specific questions about TNA's™ - Todd Farrar, Director of Services at Foresight: 401-273-4844, ext. 32; todd.farrar@foresightst.com .
General questions about the program - Kay Etzler: (301) 435-2713; sbir@od.nih.gov .
The SBIR Commercialization Assistance Program (CAP) is only available to SBIR awardees and was established to help small companies transition their Phase II products into the marketplace. NIH hired the Larta Institute to implement the CAP program which consists of training workshops, individual mentoring and consulting sessions. The experience culminates with an opportunity for companies to present their business opportunities to potential investors and strategic partners at the NIH Life Sciences Showcase.
Selected participants receive individualized assistance to: 1) develop or improve strategic business planning 2) develop or improve marketing research capabilities 3) identify investors 4) develop licensing opportunities 5) establish strategic partnerships, and/or 6) seek regulatory approvals for performing clinical trials.
Information about activities that occur over a ten-month period, eligibility requirements, and application instructions are described at: http://nihcap.larta.org/.
NIH SBIR awardees (grantees and contractors) who have received a Phase II award since January 1, 2001 are eligible to participate. Participants must, however, meet the SBIR small business eligibility criteria as described in the current SBIR Parent Funding Opportunity Announcement, PA-06-120: (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-06-120.html ). For general inquiries about the CAP, contact Ketaki Sood at (213) 765-4824 or ksood@larta.org .
Pipeline to Partnerships (P2P)
The NIH SBIR office has recently developed Pipeline to Partnerships (P2P) to advance innovative technologies toward commercialization, and to assist in furthering the development of NIH licensed technologies funded through the SBIR/STTR programs.
P2P provides a virtual space where NIH licensees and NIH SBIR/STTR awardees can showcase their technologies and product development for an audience of potential strategic partners, investors, and licensees. For more detailed information, go to: http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/jul2007/od-11.htm.
For further information about these programs, contact:
JoAnne Goodnight, SBIR/STTR Coordinator in the Office of the NIH Director 301-435-2688; jg128w@nih.gov .
This SBIR program is currently developing a strategic plan to help disseminate information about the research and products presented in the “Linking Science and Business Showcases.” Articles for public and professional magazines, spotlighting products on the branch home page, and “pushing” information out to health-related organizations, universities and the public are a few of our avenues for dissemination. Other suggestions are welcome.
