Empowering Montana's Technology Entrepreneurs
The Montana Innovation Partnership powered by MSU TechLink Center works with early-stage tech founders competing for federal research and development funds through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs – America’s Seed Fund!
Services
Montana's source for no-cost SBIR/STTR assistance
Montana companies have earned over
$284M
in SBIR/STTR funds
152
Montana businesses have received SBIR/STTR funding through 2024
Partnership Driven
The Montana Innovation Partnership powered by MSU TechLink promotes technology-based economic development in the state through education and expert technical assistance for SBIR/STTR applicants. We collaborate with universities and colleges, accelerators, regional and national FAST partners, and other economic development organizations across Montana to help connect you to a broad network of support as you launch and grow your business in Montana.
About MTIP
The Montana Innovation Partnership (MTIP) powered by MSU TechLink Center in partnership with the U. S Small Business Administration and the Montana Department of Commerce offers no-cost services to help Montana innovators and entrepreneurs learn about and compete for over $4 billion in federal research and development funding under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. We assist with activities related to successfully participating in these programs such as proposal reviews, intellectual property guidance, commercialization planning, and referrals.
The Montana Technology Innovation Partnership program was established by the Montana Department of Commerce in 1999 to support technology-based economic development. In August 2018, the management of the MTIP program transitioned to Montana State University’s TechLink Center. We are driven to help Montana’s tech-based entrepreneurs and innovators secure vital seed funding for their ground-breaking technologies.
We work with individuals and small businesses engaged in research and development (R&D) of truly innovative technologies or products. We are also focused on helping women-owned, minority-owned, veteran-owned, and rural tech companies to successfully compete for SBIR/STTR capital. Our core objectives are:
-
To offer technical assistance for SBIR and STTR proposals
-
To assist businesses in securing seed capital for research and development
-
To provide educational opportunities that target Montana’s technology-based businesses and service providers
-
To identify and guide businesses to appropriate local and national resources – technical, business, financial or university
-
To deliver result-oriented services to help technology-based businesses achieve personal commercialization goals
-
To complement, not duplicate, the services of other service providers
MONTANA SBIR SUCCESS STORIES
Philippe Diaz
Dermaxon
"The STTR funding and state grants have allowed us to remain independent. We can focus on doing the research and have full control over our company and the time to pursue commercialization of a product."
James Beck
Sunburst Sensors
"The SBIR program is important because it helps companies develop novel technologies that are of interest to the company and use to government agencies."
Sarah Lukes
Agile Focus Designs
"MTIP was my only help on my first grant which would have been too much to tackle on my own in the timeframe required. Without the SBIR, I would have had to take a job and not been able to start my company and explore this technology."
Our Partners
