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Relaunch of America's Seed Fund Update Newsletter

Post Date:
November 17, 2020
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jshieh
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This is the first issue of the relaunched, America’s Seed Fund Update newsletter. Our goal is to provide a range of information that will be valuable to the SBIR/STTR programs’ various stakeholders, and future issues will include features on program data, impacts and policies, company success stories, SBIR/STTR funding opportunities, and relevant events and news. If you have suggestions, let us know at technology@sba.gov.

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November 2020

 

 

Recapping the 2020 SBIR Weeks (Road Tour Pivot)

The SBIR Road Tours bring together innovators, local ecosystem builders, and Federal decision makers to demystify the SBIR/STTR programs. Following the transition of in-person SBIR Road Tour events to regional virtual SBIR Weeks, SBA held the final SBIR Week events of 2020 with a virtual swing across the South. Each meeting included presentations by SBA staff and agency program managers, and the presentations and recordings for each regional meeting are available at sbirroadtour.com, as are the overall agency pitch videos. Catch up on the information yourself -- or share with small businesses that couldn’t attend a live session. Read more at sbirroadtour.com.

SBA Strategic Alliance with MSI STEM R&D Consortium (MSRDC)

SBA is partnering with MSRDC, a consortium of minority-serving research institutions, industry, and government partners, to strengthen and expand small business innovation, research, and commercialization from underrepresented pools of science and engineering talent. Read more and find past webinars at msrdconsortium.org.

Agency SBIR/STTR Awards by State, 2009-2019

Curious about the distribution of SBIR awards by agency in your state? SSTI recently published this breakdown, which provides a handy comparison of in-state and across-state trends over the past decade. Read more at ssti.org.

News & Updates

Did you know? SBIR was created by distinguished first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corp. Roland Tibbetts, whose NSF program laid the foundation for the government-wide program. Read more.

NIH announced a new Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) Program to help small businesses identify and address their most pressing product development needs. Read more and attend the webinar on Dec 1.

SBA issued an updated Policy Directive on Oct. 1. Read more.

National Women’s Business Council published a study on women’s inclusion in the SBIR/STTR programs. Read more.

GAO report of FY 2019 SBIR/STTR awards finds that half of agencies provide notice late and two-thirds issue awards late. The report also identifies practices to improve timeliness. Read more.

North Carolina is using Coronavirus Relief Funds to provide matching SBIR/STTR grants for pandemic-related awards. Read more.

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) announced a new round of SBIR matching grant recipients. Read more.

Events & Education

Join SBA and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) today, Nov 17, 2 pm ET for a conversation on “Lab-to-Market: Connecting Communities to the U.S. Federal Innovation Ecosystem” an official activity of Global Entrepreneurship Week, an international movement to empower entrepreneurs and help make it possible for anyone, anywhere to start and scale. Register.

The New Mexico SBIR/STTR Innovation Summit, Dec 9, is virtual, free, and designed for a national audience this year. Read more.

Planning to apply to the NIH SBIR/STTR program? Check out the free Applicant Assistance Program – applications for support are due Dec 10. Learn more.

Planning to apply to the DOE SBIR/STTR program? Review topics and apply for free Applicant Assistance. Learn more.

Miss the October NIH Virtual Seminar on Grants Administration and Program Funding? Resources are available until November 27.

Miss the October DoD SBIR/STTR Virtual Symposium? Review materials.

Miss the October NASA Innovation and Opportunity Conference? Visit their Resource Library.

Look for upcoming events at: sbir.gov/events.

Local Assistance - Meet FAST

The Federal And State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program funded 24 organizations this year, building the SBIR/STTR ecosystem through outreach, technical assistance, and financial support.

OK Catalyst, founded as part of the Tom Love Innovation Hub at the University of Oklahoma (OU), helps OU students, faculty and staff, and entrepreneurs throughout the state secure early-stage seed funding through the SBIR/STTR programs. The OK Catalyst Virtual DoD SBIR Accelerator is now open to help OK companies prepare a competitive Phase I DoD SBIR/STTR proposal. Applications due November 25.

Montana Innovation Partnership (MTIP) powered by MSU TechLink Center in partnership with the Montana Department of Commerce offers no-cost services to help Montana innovators and entrepreneurs learn about and compete for SBIR/STTR funding. MTIP will award FAST Microgrants to provide financial assistance (up to $1,500) to Montana small businesses actively preparing SBIR/STTR proposals. Learn more.

Not in Oklahoma or Montana? Find local assistance near you at: sbir.gov/local-assistance.

SBIR Success - Celebrating a Veteran-owned Small Business Saving Lives and Taxpayer Dollars

Pathfinder Systems, Colorado – This veteran- and women-owned small business developed weapon system simulation software to train aircrews in multiple Department of Defense branches. From an SBIR investment of $4.9 million, the company developed technologies that generated $32 million in revenue and saved the Department thousands in training costs (as of 2018). Pathfinder Systems now provides multiple training simulation solutions. Read more.

Get inspired by more SBIR Company Stories at: sbir.gov/news/success-stories.

SBIR/STTR Funding Opportunities

Find more funding opportunities and specific topic areas at: sbir.gov/funding.

NSF

SBIR Phase I (2020), STTR Phase I (2020). Rolling submission windows, next closes 12/3/2020. Project Pitch required.

DHS

Pre-solicitation 21.1 now open. Review topics and ask questions until 12/10/20. Solicitation opens 12/11/20, proposals due 1/15/21.

DoD

Army SBIR 20.6 Direct to Phase II (follow-on to xTechSBIR competition). Due 12/15/2020.

DARPA SBIR/STTR Opportunities (SBOs). Due 12/17/2020.

SBIR 21.1/STTR 21.A pre-release expected on 12/8/20. Solicitation open 1/14/21, proposals due 2/18/21. 

DOE

ARPA-E Topics Informing New Program Areas.

Phase I Release 2 Topics issued. Letters of Intent due 1/4/2021.

HHS

NIH, CDC, FDA SBIR/STTR Omnibus Solicitations next due 1/5/2021.

SBIR Technology Transfer (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). Due 1/5/2021.

Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP). Due 1/5/2021.

Additional targeted funding opportunities on specific topics with various upcoming due dates can be found here.

NASA

SBIR/STTR 2021 Program Solicitation. Due 1/8/2021

DOC

NOAA SBIR Notice of Funding Opportunity FY2021. Due 1/13/2021.

About SBA Office of Innovation and Technology

The U.S. Small Business Administration serves as the coordinating agency for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs - also known as America's Seed Fund. SBA also manages the related Federal And State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program and Growth Accelerator Fund Competition. Learn more at sbir.gov 

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