Federal and State Technology (FAST)
The Utah Innovation Center is the Federal and State Technology (FAST) partnership awardee for the state of Utah. Administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA), FAST provides funding for SBIR/STTR support organizations in each state to execute state and regional programs that increase the number of SBIR/STTR proposals leading to an increase in the number of SBIR/STTR awards.
FAST funding enables the Utah Innovation Center to:
- Support SBIR/STTR applicants and awardees
- Expand awareness of the SBIR/STTR program
- Strengthen the competitiveness of Utah-based SBIR/STTR applications
FAST Program Areas
FAST awards strengthen the SBIR/STTR ecosystem through three critical program areas. These areas support the program through:
Outreach: increase the pipeline of SBIR/STTR applicants through training and outreach, and build the capacity of partner organizations and individuals to support SBIR/STTR applicants and existing awardees.
Offerings include:
- Regional symposiums
- University meetups
- Monthly 101
- Ambassador program
Technical and business assistance: support entrepreneurs and startups through programs or services that improve proposal development and team creation; provide assistance that leads to the commercialization of technology developed through SBIR/STTR program funding; and form or encourage relevant mentoring networks to provide business advice and counseling.
Offerings include:
- Commercialization cohort
- Expert training workshops
- One-on-one training
Financial support: provide grants or loans to help applicants cover costs associated with developing SBIR/STTR proposals (Phase 0), attending relevant conferences, and bridging gaps between phases.
Offerings include:
- SBIR/STTR go-to-market funding
- UTIF Phase 0 microgrants