What is SBIR?

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is a highly competitive program that encourages domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) that has the potential for commercialization. Through a competitive awards-based program, SBIR enables small businesses to explore their technological potential and provides an incentive to profit from its commercialization. By including qualified small businesses in the nation’s R&D arena, high-tech innovation is stimulated and the U.S. builds entrepreneurial spirit as it meets specific R&D needs.

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What is STTR?

Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) is another program that expands funding opportunities in the federal innovation R&D arena. Central to the program is expansion of public/private sector partnerships to include joint venture opportunities for small businesses and nonprofit research institutions. The unique feature of the STTR program is the requirement for the small business to formally collaborate with a research institution in Phase I and Phase II. STTR’s most important role is to bridge the gap between performance of basic science and commercialization of resulting innovations.

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Click here for a breakdown of the difference

Launching Montana Companies since 1996

The Power of Partnership

MTIP powered by MSU TechLink is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration with additional program support from the Montana Department of Commerce.

Testimonials


  • The STTR funding and state grants we received have allowed us to remain independent. We can just focus on doing the research and have ultimate control over our company structure and the right time to pursue commercialization of a product.

    DR. PHILIPPE DIAZ, DERMAXON

  • MTIP was my only help on the first grant, which would have been too much to tackle on my own in the time frame required. Without the SBIR, I would have had to take a job and not been able to start my company and explore this technology.

    SARAH LUKES, AGILE FOCUS DESIGNS

  • The great thing about SBIR is to explore an idea without begging for money from investors, thereby stretching dollars without giving away equity. This equity free support is tremendously valuable for small companies like mine, especially in the lengthy and expensive process of medical device development.

    RICHARD CLARKE, YELLOWSTONE SCIENTIFIC

  • MTIP definitely helped with securing the original funding by supporting our efforts to write a winning proposal. Overall we've attracted about $3 million in outside funding to the state.

    RANDY HIEBERT, MONTANA EMERGENT TECHNOLOGIES

  • MTIP's proposal help early on was very valuable. I don't think I can overstate the value of sending a proposal to a skilled editor who can help translate big ideas on paper.

    DR. DAVID DRISCOLL, GLACIGEN

  • The true value of SBIR/STTR funding is difficult to put into words. MTIP helped with budgeting and contracting questions. MTIP has given us decisive guidance on questions where we found a lot of conflicting information and needed a trusted expert.

    DR. RUSSELL BARBOUR, ADVANCED MICROCAVITY SENSORS

  • The SBIR program is important because it helps companies develop novel technologies that are both of interest to the company and of use to government agencies.

    JAMES BECK, SUNBURST SENSORS

  • The MTIP and its expert staff helped us learn to think and write like business professionals while leveraging our academic backgrounds. MTIP staff had endless patience with us in translating complex scientific topics into a viable project proposal with the potential to commercialize a product.

    ROBERT DUNN, WESTSCAPE NURSERY

Resources

Resources

These pages are to help small businesses unfamiliar with the SBIR and STTR programs discover what they may be eligible for and how they can win.

Click here for IP Resources
Click here for SBIR Candidate Guides
Click here for SBIR best practices

Agencies & Solicitations

SBIR/STTR solicitations are released throughout the year. To help with planning, this calendar provides a general overview of when participating agencies have released solicitations in the past. Be sure to check each agency website for exact release and due dates.

Click here to learn more

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