NASA's SBIR and STTR programs

NASA's SBIR and STTR Programs are a three-phased approach for the small business concern to develop a technology in response to a specific set of NASA mission driven needs. The STTR program involves a research institution partnering with a small business to develop a technology based on specific mission needs. The mission of NASA is to understand and protect our home planet, explore the universe and search for life, and inspire the next generation of explorers.

The SBIR/STTR program provides an opportunity for the small business researcher (or research institution) having a technology or idea to adapt or apply that concept to a specific subtopic for NASA mission needs. If the idea or technology is recommended by a NASA center in response to a topic or subtopic need, a Phase 1 contract will be negotiated. SBIR Phase 1 contracts offer up to $70,000 for a duration of up to six months and SBIR Phase 2 contracts up to $600,000 for up to two years. STTR Phase 1 contracts $100K (one year) and Phase 2 contracts $600K (two years). 2003 awards totaled $103 million (SBIR) and $12 million (STTR).

NASA topics include:

Solicitation Dates: Expected release is July 2005 (subject to change)

Website: http://sbir.gsfc.nasa.gov/SBIR/SBIR.html

Recent North Carolina Awardees: Applied Nanotechnologies, Inc. (Chapel Hill), Clinical Tools, Inc. (Chapel Hill)


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