Department of Commerce

SBIR Information

• Grant Development Phases
• Award Winners
• Phase 0 Award Winners
• Grant Deadlines
• Proposal Development Guidelines
• SBIR Events: Montana
• SBIR Events: Regional/National
• Other Events of Interest: Montana
• Differences Between SBIR & STTR
• Will This Program Work For You?
• Eligibility
• Profile of a Good Candidate

SBIR Resources

• Federal Agencies
• Patent Search
• Protecting Your Intellectual Property
• Resources for Inventors
• Doing Your Background Research
• Montana Funding Opportunities
• National SBIR Sites
• SBIR Contacts in Others States

About SBIR

• Home Page
• About Us
• Mission
• Goals & Objectives
• FAQ's
• Request For Services

Goals & Objectives

Ten (10) federal agencies currently participate in the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program. Those federal agencies with external R&D budgets in excess of $100,000,000 are required by federal statute to conduct an SBIR program. Funds allocated to the SBIR program are established as 2.5% of their external R&D budgets. Over $1 billion is distributed throughout the U.S. annually to for-profit small businesses through the SBIR program. The SBIR technical assistance will assist small Montana companies in competing for a larger piece of this federal R&D funding. Increasing the number of SBIR awards in Montana will play a key role in creating a growing technology business base in the state, a primary engine of growth.

Objectives:

The Montana Department of Commerce has adopted a state plan for Small Business Innovation Research that contains objectives and work plans for the program. Outcome indicators for the

SBIR programs:

• Increase the number of SBIR Phase I Awards won by Montana companies to 20.
• Increase the number of Phase II SBIR awards to 7.
• Increase the conversion rate of Phase I awards to Phase II awards from 20% to 35%.
• Sponsor 8 SBIR workshops that will reach 320 participants.
• Sponsor one SBIR conference that will reach 150 participants.
• Provide 600 hours of counseling to 100 small businesses that are SBIR candidates or existing SBIR award winners.
• Design and implement a mentoring network of SBIR award winners. In order to develop an effective network, the SBIR program will administer a needs assessment to all SBIR winners to measure: willingness to participate in the program, expectations of each mentor, allocation of time commitments, etc.
• Create a SBIR Advisory Council. In conjunction with the Governor’s Office, the SBIR Program will create an advisory council comprised of public and private sector representatives.
• Develop a five-year strategic plan. With the assistance and guidance of the SBIR Advisory Council, the SBIR Program will develop a five-year strategic plan.