STTR is an important new small business program that
expands funding opportunities in the federal innovation research and development arena.
Central to the program is expansion of the public/private sector partnership to include
the joint venture opportunities for small business and the nation's premier nonprofit
research institutions. STTR's most important role is to foster the innovation necessary to
meet the nation's scientific and technological challenges in the 21st century.
Competitive Opportunity for Small Business:
STTR is a highly competitive program that reserves a
specific percentage of federal R&D funding for award to small business and nonprofit
research institution partners. Small business has long been where innovation and
innovators thrive. But the risk and expense of conducting serious R&D efforts can be
beyond the means of many small businesses.
Conversely, nonprofit
research laboratories are instrumental in developing high-tech innovations.
But frequently, innovation is confined to the theoretical, not the practical.
STTR combines the strengths of both entities by introducing entrepreneurial
skills to high-tech research efforts. The technologies and products are
transferred from the laboratory to the marketplace. The small business
profits from the commercialization, which, in turn, stimulates the U.S.
economy.
STTR Qualifications:
Small businesses must meet certain eligibility criteria to
participate in the STTR Program.
- American-owned and independently operated
- For-profit
- Principal researcher need not be employed by small business
- Company size limited to 500 employees
(No size limit for nonprofit research institution)
The nonprofit research institution must also meet certain
eligibility criteria.
- Located in the US
- Meet one of three definitions
- Nonprofit college or university
- Domestic nonprofit research organization
- Federally funded R&D center (FFRDC)
The STTR System:
Each year, five federal departments and agencies are
required by STTR to reserve a portion of their R&D funds for award to small
business/nonprofit research institution partnerships.
- Department of Defense
- Department of Energy
- Department of Health and Human Services
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- National Science Foundation
These agencies designate R&D topics and accept
proposals.
Three-Phase Program:
Following submission of proposals, agencies make STTR
awards based on small business/nonprofit research institution qualification, degree of
innovation, and future market potential. Small businesses that receive awards or grants
then begin a three-phase program.
- Phase I is the startup
phase. Awards of up to $100,000 for approximately one year fund the
exploration of the scientific, technical, and commercial feasibility
of an idea or technology.
- Phase II awards of up to $500,000, for as long as two years,
expand Phase I results. During this period, the R&D work is performed and the
developer begins to consider commercial potential. Only Phase I award winners are
considered for Phase II.
- Phase III is the period during which Phase II innovation
moves from the laboratory into the marketplace. No STTR funds support this phase. The
small business must find funding in the private sector or other non-STTR federal agency
funding.
SBA Role:
The US Small Business
Administration plays an important role as the coordinating agency for
the STTR program. It helps the five agencies implement STTR, reviews their
progress, and reports annually to Congress on its operation.
SBA is also the information
link to STTR. SBA collects solicitation information from all the participating
agencies and publishes it periodically in a Pre-Solicitation Announcement
(PSA). The PSA is a single source for the topics and anticipated release
and closing dates for each agency's solicitations.
For more information on the STTR Program, please contact:
US Small Business
Administration
Office of Technology
409 Third Street, SW
Washington, DC 20416
(202)
205-6450
All of SBA's programs and services are extended to the
public on a nondiscriminatory basis.
STTR Awards (as of 10-28-99):
STTR Award Winners - Fiscal Year 1994
STTR Award Winners - Fiscal Year
1995
STTR Award Winners - Fiscal Year
1996
STTR Award Winners - Fiscal Year
1997
STTR Award Winners - Fiscal Year
1998
STTR Program Statistics
1997 STTR State Chart
1997 STTR State Rank
1998 STTR State Chart
1998 STTR State Rank
1999 STTR State Chart
1999 STTR State Rank
2000 STTR State Chart
2000 STTR State Rank
2001 STTR State Chart
2001 STTR State Rank
2002 STTR State Chart
2002 STTR State Rank
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*Last Modified: 10-10-01
