OIT Times: SBIR and STTR Offer $200 Million to Address R&D Needs

March 20, 2002

Do you work for a small business and have a good idea but need financial assistance to help develop it?

If so, you should be aware that each year about $200 million is available for financial assistance from DOE Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. These programs help stimulate technology innovation and commercialization in the private sector, and improve the return on federally funded R&D investments.

In collaboration with the SBIR/STTR programs, OIT currently supports a $65 million R&D portfolio with over a 66% industry cost-share. These projects address such areas as catalysis for refinery operations; fine chemical, commodity chemical, and petrochemical synthesis; process separations; advanced measurement and controls; and new materials. Technology advances in these areas are expected to bring a sustainable competitive edge to the U.S. petroleum refining and chemical industries, as well as large energy, economic and environmental benefits to the nation.

Now the time to start planning for the next SBIR/STTR solicitation scheduled for October 2002. The solicitation is expected to offer 40 to 50 technical topic areas in which to compete. Many of these topics address key R&D needs in the Industries of the Future. Phase I awards typically amount to $100K for a 6 to 9 month feasibility study. Phase II awards range between $500-750K for a two-year R&D effort. For more information about financial assistance from the DOE SBIR/STTR programs contact me or visit http://sbir.er.doe.gov/sbir.

Remember, you can win if you don play! Yours may be the next technology of the future!