Eleven government agencies participate in the Small Business Innovation Research program which makes grants to science and technology-based firms. EPA and NSF just announced the open proposal window for applications “for small businesses to grow, add workers, and expand into new markets.”
Both programs will be accepting applications for Phase I funding. These are small grants: A total of $70,000 is available in funding for each EPA Phase I award. The NSF’s SBIR Phase I solicitation funding is $150,000 per award. One expert told me that it probably means 5 awards from EPA and 6 awards from NSF for grants ranging from $15k to $25k each.
Under Phase I, the scientific merit and technical feasibility of the proposed concept is investigated…Through this phased approach to SBIR funding, EPA can determine whether the research idea, often on high-risk advanced concepts, is technically feasible, whether the firm can do high-quality research, and whether sufficient progress has been made to justify a larger Phase II effort.
They go on to say:
Phase II contracts are limited to small businesses that have successfully completed their Phase I contracts. The objective of Phase II is to develop and commercialize the Phase I technology. Competitive awards are based on the results of Phase I and the commercialization potential of the Phase II technology. In Phase II, EPA awards contracts of up to $225,000 for two years. EPA also offers up to $120,000 and one additional year as Phase II Options for firms with third party financing for accelerating commercialization or for technologies accepted into an EPA technology verification program.
The EPA’s SBIR Phase I solicitation opens on March 19, 2009, and closes on May 20, 2009. The NSF’s SBIR Phase I solicitation is now open and will close on June 9, 2009.
Small businesses must meet certain eligibility criteria to participate in the SBIR program:
* American-owned and independently operated
* For-profit
* Principal researcher employed by business
* Company size limited to 500 employees
Eligible companies can to apply to both EPA and NSF, although they can only accept funding from one source.
Photo by Studio80 at sxc.hu
About Jennifer Kaplan
