About SBIR

The Montana Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) located at the Montana Department of Commerce helps Montana companies compete for more than one billion dollars in federal grants that have been earmarked to fund research and development. Prior to the creation of the SBIR Rural Outreach Program, businesses in rural states like Montana competed very poorly for SBIR funding at the national level.

Recognizing the need to help Montana businesses compete more effectively, the Department of Commerce created the SBIR outreach program in 1999. In 2000, twenty-four (24) Montana companies won more than $5 million dollars in grants and in 2001 thirty-five (35) companies captured more than $11 million dollars.

Montana's SBIR Program offers free counseling assistance to any individual or small business that wants to explore SBIR grant opportunities.

To win a Small Business Innovation Research grant, a business owner must have an innovative idea and the savvy to compete and win in the competitive federal arena of the SBIR Program. The team of experts working with the Montana Department of Commerce includes past SBIR award winners, winning multiple awards, so they know what it takes for you to compete and win at the national level. You have to be good because only 1 in 10 proposals win.

The SBIR Outreach program offers free counseling services to any individual or company that wants to investigate and a SBIR grant.

About STTR

The Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) is a cooperative research partnership between small business and a research institution. The purpose of this partnership is to stimulate technological innovation through the research development and commercialization of the new products, processes or systems that match the needs of a participating federal agency.

STTR distinctively requires a small business to work collaboratively with a non-profit research institution. The small business must complete no less than 40 percent of the work, and the non-profit research institution must complete a minimum of 30 percent of the work. Either party, or subcontracts to other entities, may complete the remainder.