Innovation and Commercialization Support
The Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program aims to empower Hoosier innovators to prepare for SBIR/STTR award opportunities. The IEDC has partnered with the Applied Research Institute (ARI) to provide holistic SBIR/STTR support including expert proposal advising, group training, and matching grants to ensure Indiana small businesses and entrepreneurs are able to capitalize on federal research grant opportunities to take their innovative ideas from concept to market.
This opportunity is funded [in part] through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
What is SBIR/STTR?
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs are non-dilutive funding opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses to support scientific and technological innovation through Federal research funds. SBIR/STTR opportunities provide funding to develop your technology and chart a path toward commercialization. With 11 participating Federal agencies, there are a wide range of research and funding opportunities available.
SBIR and STTR awards have differing project eligibility requirements. Before browsing federal opportunities, reflect on which award type is most aligned with your company's capabilities and goals.
| Applicability |
SBIREligibility Requirements |
STTREligibility Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Small Business Concern (SBC) | Must be an American-owned business Must be independently operated Must be a for-profit business Must have five hundred or fewer employees If sub-contract with another party, or with multiple parties: SBC must do at least two-thirds of research during Phase I; SBC must do at least one-half of research during Phase II |
Must be an American-owned business Must be independently operated Must be a for-profit business Must have five hundred or fewer employees Not less than 40% of the research/research development must be performed by SBC |
| Small Business Concern (SBC) Principal Investigator (PI) | Must be primarily employed with SBC | Must be primarily employed with SBC |
| Research Institution (RI) | Involvement of RI not required If the SBC subcontracts with RI: RI may conduct up to one-third of research during Phase I; RI may do up to one-half of research during Phase II |
Research Institution collaborator required Must be one of the following: A non-profit college or university; A domestic non-profit research organization; or A federally funded Research and Development Center RI required to conduct at least 30% of research and development but may conduct up to 60% of research and development |
| Requirements | SBIR | STTR |
|---|---|---|
| Applicability | 6 months | 12 months |
| Number of participating SB | 11 | 5 |
| SBC PI | Up to $150,000 | Up to $150,000 |
| % of Agency's RI | 3.00% | 0.45% |
| IP allocation agreement required | No | Yes |
| Nonprofit RI or FFRDC participation required | No | Yes |
| PI employment | small business | small business or RI |
| Applicant | small business | small business |
How It Works:
Participating in America's Seed Fund happens in three phases.
Proof of Concept
16-12 months
$50,000 - $275,000
Technology Development
224 months
$750,000 - $1.8 million
Commercialization
3Take your product to the commercial market or sell in the multi-billion dollar federal contracting marketplace
Eligibility
SBIR/STTR program eligibility requirements are in place to ensure that small, for-profit, independent, U.S. business concerns benefit from these programs. The regulations include restrictions on:
- the type of firm; For Profit
- its ownership structure; and
- a majority (more than 50%) of your firm’s equity must be directly owned and controlled by the following: (1) one or more individuals who are citizens or permanent resident aliens of the U.S., (2) Other for-profit small business concerns (each of which is directly owned and controlled by individuals who are citizens or permanent resident aliens of the U.S.). (3) 3) A combination of the scenarios presented in (1) and (2) above. (4) Multiple VCOCs, HFs, PEFs, or any combination of these, so long as no one such firm owns or controls more than 50% of the equity.
- the firm’s size in terms of the number of employees.
- the size requirement: An SBIR/STTR awardee, together with its affiliates, must not have more than 500 employees.
Specialty Advising
The IEDC, through a partnership with ARI, has gathered experienced advisors to help entrepreneurs identify proposal opportunities, navigate and apply for SBIR/STTR grants, provide valuable proposal feedback, and issue proposal support letters. Specialty advisors can help strengthen applications to help Indiana businesses gain access to federal, non-dilutive capital. Learn more and get connected today!
Matching Grants
The IEDC provides matching funds for awardees of SBIR/STTR Phase 1 and Phase 2 awards – helping you commercialize your tech! These matching grants provide flexible funding to SBIR/STTR awardees as you progress through the stages of bringing your technology to market. To learn more and apply for matching grants click the button below!
Participating Agencies and Opportunities
You must respond to a funding solicitation from a specific awarding agency, because the SBIR/STTR programs do not accept unsolicited topic proposals. Participating agencies do post opportunities on a regular cadence throughout the year. Some agencies even solicit proposals multiples times per year.
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Department of Defense (DOD)
Department of Energy (DOE)
Department of Education (ED)
Department of Transportation (DOT)
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Health and Human Services (HHS)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
National Science Foundation (NSF)
*Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.