The Basics - Getting Started
IN THIS LESSON
What is SBIR/STTR?
In this lesson, SBIR expert Leon Wolf explains two important federal grant programs that help small businesses turn their innovative ideas into successful products.
SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) and STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) are collectively known as "America's Seed Fund." These programs provide $4 billion annually in federal grants and contracts to small, early-stage businesses with innovative technologies.
The program has operated for 40 years with Congress's approval. Throgh this program, the US government wants to:
Support early-stage innovation until private investors step in
Keep America competitive economically and technically
Create high-growth industries with good jobs that stay in the US
These programs serve as crucial stepping stones for innovative small businesses seeking to commercialize their technologies.
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