SBIR and STTR Mission and Program Goals

The mission of the Small Business Innovative Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs is to support scientific excellence and technological innovation through the investment of Federal research funds in critical American priorities to build a strong national economy.

SBIR Goals

  • Stimulate technological innovation
  • Meet federal research and development needs
  • Foster and encourage participation in innovation and entrepreneurship by socially and economically disadvantaged persons
  • Increase private-sector commercialization of 
    innovations derived from federal research and development funding

STTR Goals

  • Stimulate technological innovation
  • Foster technology transfer through cooperative research and development between small businesses and research institutions
  • Increase private-sector commercialization of 
    innovations derived from federal research and development

SBIR's Four-Phase Program

Phase

Description

Phase 0

A state and federally funded effort to stimulate interest and increase participation in the federally funded SBIR and STTR programs. Qualified Louisiana small businesses can request $3,000 to $5,000 to cover reasonable costs incurred in developing an SBIR or STTR Phase I or II proposal. Additional support is available through the Federal and State Partnership Program (FAST).

Phase I

Establishes the technical merit, feasibility and commercial potential of the proposed research/research and development effort. Also determines the performance 

Based on proposals solicited by participating agencies. These solicitations contain topics on which small firms are invited to submit proposals. The proposal describes the results the firm intends on attaining, the approach the firm will take, and how it will prove the feasibility of its approach. Phase I awards reach up to $295,924 for approximately a six-month period and should show:

  • The proposing firm can do high-quality R&D
  • The proposed effort is technically feasible
  • Sufficient progress has been made to justify a much larger agency investment in Phase II

Phase II

 Based upon the results of Phase I, and the scientific and technical merit of the Phase II proposal, Phase II awards reach up to $1.97M and the principal R&D effort with the duration not to exceed two years.

Phase III

 Phase III is a contract with a federal  agency for products and/or services.