Mary Cardon (Director of the Utah Industry and Innovation Center) explains the role of SBIR-STTR grants and how the Center helps Utah’s entrepreneurs and inventors find funding for research and development of their technology-oriented ideas.

Listen to what you can expect in your first meeting with the Utah Industry and Innovation Center. Mary Cardon (Director of the Utah Industry and Innovation Center) explains what you can expect from your first meeting with the Innovation Center team to the final proposal submission.

Michael A. Keene, who has served as Vice President of Technology Research at Ceramatec, State Science Advisor for the state of Utah, and Professor of Technology Commercialization at Westminster College, describes the kinds of companies and projects that are a good fit for the SBIR and STTR programs.

Why should your business work with the Utah Industry and Innovation Center?

We Understand The Process:
We’ll help you with all the details of your application to make sure it’s winnable. 

We Know If You’re Ready:
We’ll review your grant components and help identify any that may need work or development prior to applying.

We’re Matchmakers:
The most important factor in being awarded an SBIR-STTR grant is that your technology matches the criteria issued by the federal agency providing the grant.

We Increase Your Odds:
When we help you, from consultation to submission and anywhere in between, you increase your odds of winning.

We Make Your Proposal Stronger:
Our resources ensure that your proposal for a grant is the strongest it can be, which increases your chance of winning.

• Utah Industry and Innovation Center, a Great Resource:
  • Dr. Nikko Ronquillo (Co-Founder and COO of Navillum Nanotechnologies), Dr. Barbara Wirostko (Co-Founder and CSO of Jade Therapeutics), and Thomas Wolf (CEO of Silicon Technologies) explain why the Utah Industry and Innovation Center is a great resource to assist you in navigating the waters of the proposal writing and submission process.

• Winning Opens Doors:
  • • Dr. Michael Keene (former Utah State Science Advisor and VP of Technology at Ceramatec), Dr. Barbara Wirostko (Co-Founder and CSO of Jade Therapeutics), and Thomas Wolf (CEO of Silicon Technologies) tell how the Utah Industry and Innovation Center helps Utah companies succeed.

• Increase Your Odds:
  • • Dr. Barbara Wirostko (Co-Founder and CSO of Jade Therapeutics), Thomas Wolf (CEO of Silicon Technologies and Mary Cardon (Director of the Utah Industry and Innovation Center) talk about how the Center can be a critical tool to help you increase your odds of success.

The Utah Industry and Innovation Center is a statewide resource for Utah small businesses and entrepreneurs searching for a mechanism to fund research and development of their technology. The Center provides services and resources to help Utah companies apply for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants and contracts.

A quick overview of how to apply for SBIR or STTR funding:

• Contact the Utah Innovation Center (email or phone) , and let them get acquainted with your company and the project you are thinking about. They will help assess your technology, how well you fit the program, and any gaps you may have.
• While you are working with the Utah Industry and Innovation Center, there is a federal registration process that takes three to six weeks. You can start on that today – https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html 
• While you are registering and talking with the Utah Industry and Innovation Center, you will need to search for an agency and topic that meets the needs of your technology and aligns with your business strategy.
• Read the solicitation through and through.
• Draft/outline a plan for your Phase I, with an eye to Phase II. Work with the Utah Industry and Innovation Center.
• Contact the person in charge of the selected federal agency and solicitation topic by email and ask for a phone call to discuss your plan. 
• Begin writing. Expect the entire process to take about 200 hours of company time. The Utah Innovation Center will review and edit your drafts as well as provide samples and templates. 
• Work with collaborators to assure research is correct and writing is sound.
• Complete budgets and ancillary documents.
• Begin finalizing documents.

This is a  brief overview, but we have many resources available to guide you through the process. Explore this website a bit come to our SBIR 101 workshop to learn a bit more about the process and tools to move along the application pathway; or call/email the Utah Industry and Innovation Center to schedule a consultation.

The Utah Industry and Innovation Center offers a full range of services to small businesses interested in SBIR and STTR funding to include:

• Consultations 
• Training, workshops and seminars
• Proposal guidance and evaluation 
• Editing and writing
• Submission assistance

Consultations, editing and guidance are available at no cost to Utah businesses. Events,  including workshops and seminars, may have nominal fees.

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants and contracts fund small businesses’ research and development (R&D) projects. Together, they provide $3.6 billion annually to help small businesses minimize risk so innovative technology can move closer to commercialization.

Currently, 11 federal agencies participate in SBIR and five of those also participate in STTR, both of which are congressionally-mandated programs. These non-equity position dollars pay for a company’s research and development efforts. There is no loss of technology ownership, no loss of intellectual property and no payback of funds.

Approximately $3.6 billion is available among the 11 federal agencies to fund small business research and development through the SBIR and STTR programs. This non-dilutive funding is offered in competitive phases:

• Phase I typically offers $150,000 to $225,000 for a six-month project to prove the feasibility and technical merit of your idea or technology.
• Phase II typically offers $1 to $1.5 million for a 24-month project and is meant to expand the Phase I results and evaluate commercial potential.
• Phase III takes place as the technology moves from the laboratory to the marketplace. While SBIR-STTR funds do not support this phase, some agencies offer sole-source contracts or follow-on non-SBIR funded research and development to help the small business commercialize a product.

SBIR-STTR funds can be used for the following:

• Salaries and fringe benefits
• Overhead costs
• Materials and supplies
• Consultants or subcontractors

SBIR-STTR funds cannot be used for:

• Lawyers and patents
• Marketing
• Brick and mortar
• Creating a lab

However, a reasonable fee or profit of up to 7% can be included in the budget. These funds can be used at the discretion of the small business in any category.

Nothing. There is no loss of technology ownership, no loss of intellectual property and no payback of funds. There is a clause in the award language authorizing the government to license the technology in a national emergency. However, this has been exercised just once in over 35 years and thousands of awards.

Agencies are mandated by Congress to participate in the SBIR program when their extramural research budget is greater than $100 million and in the STTR program when it is over $1 billion. Currently, 11 agencies participate in the SBIR program and of those, five also participate in the STTR program (indicated in bold below).

You can search for open topics at Open Topic Search. For links and guidance on SBIR and STTR funding you can go to SBIR.gov or any of the individual agencies participating in the programs: 

Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Department of Commerce
     National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
     National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Department of Defense (DoD)
Department of Education (DoED)
Department of Energy (DOE)
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Department of Transportation (DOT)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
National Science Foundation (NSF)

All companies that possess a Utah business license and are eligible for the federal SBIR/STTR program may work with the Utah Industry and Innovation Center. The company must meet these federal requirements:

• For-profit company
• American-owned
• At least 51% owned by individuals
• 500 or fewer employees

The Utah Industry and Innovation Center offers three great options to learn more:

1. The Utah Industry and Innovation Center offers a free, monthly SBIR-STTR 101 workshop. It’s a great first step to learning all about the program and our help. There are snacks and free parking.
   Register for the SBIR-STTR 101 Workshop 
2. Our video library has great resources to explore the SBIR-STTR process, quickly and easily providing you basic information on our work and the federal program. You can see our videos on our YouTube channel.
3. Call or email our office to schedule a free consultation.