The purposes of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, as established by law, are to stimulate technological innovation in the private sector; to strengthen the role of SBCs in meeting federal research and development needs; to increase the commercial application of these research results; and to encourage participation of socially and economically disadvantaged persons and women-owned small businesses. Historically, the ratio of the number of Phase I proposals to awards for SBIR is 7:1 and for STTR is 5:1.

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program was established by Congress in 1982 to provide increased opportunities for small businesses to participate in R&D, to increase employment, and to improve U.S. competitiveness. The program's specific objectives are to stimulate U.S. technological innovation, use small businesses to meet federal research and development needs, private-sector commercialization of innovations derived from federal R&D, and foster and encourage participation by socially disadvantaged businesses.

The Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program awards contracts to small business concerns for cooperative research and development with a non-profit research institution (RI), such as a university. The goal of the Congress in establishing the STTR program is to facilitate the transfer of technology developed by an RI through the entrepreneurship of a small business.

SBIR/STTR Homepage Look for Deep Space RF and Optical Technologies

NASA SBIR/STTR Basics

To be eligible for selection, a proposal must be based on an innovation having high technical or scientific merit that is responsive to a NASA need described at http://sbir.nasa.gov, and which offers potential commercial application. Proposals must be submitted via the internet (http://sbir.nasa.gov) and include all relevant documentation. Unsolicited proposals will not be accepted.

2001 SBIR/STTR Submission Handbook

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