Spring 2008 SBIR Seminars across North Carolina Several 2-3 hour SBIR Seminars will be held across North Carolina this April. These workshops will provide an introduction to the SBIR/STTR programs, the services that the SBTDC provides to those looking to submit proposals, as well as sources of additional program information. They will also present insights in how to prepare a winning-proposal. Select workshops will offer a presentation from local SBIR awardees as well as service providers. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with speakers as well as counselors from the SBTDC during and after the workshop. See agendas and register online at www.sbtdc.org/events/sbir/workshops2008. Charlotte - April 15th, 8:00-11:00 AM Greensboro - April 28th, 2:00-4:00 PM Research Triangle Park - April 29th, 8:00-11:00 AM SPONSORS:     Office of Technology Transfer

NIH SBIR/STTR Solicitations Open

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has released its PHS 2008-2 omnibus SBIR/STTR Grants solicitation that stays open all year and has three separate receipt days. This complex solicitation, includes opportunities from three main components of DHHS, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The NIH is the largest entity in this solicitation and is comprised of many institutes, each with their own set of interests and topics. Although the technical topics are shared between the SBIR and STTR offerings, the rules and regulations are different and the NIH issues separate announcements for their SBIR (PA-08-050) and their STTR (PA-08-051).

NIH has separate receipt dates for AIDS and Non-AIDS topics, both of which have three receipt dates that span the year. Non-AIDS receipt dates are April 5, Aug 5, and Dec 5, 2008. AIDS-related dates are May 7, September 7, 2008 and January 7, 2009.

The DHHS solicitation is grants based and requires registration and submission via the Grants.gov web site. It is a complex process but the NIH offers help and guidance on their web site at grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/sbir.htm.
The NIH topics will be included in Zyn's SBIR Gateway Topic Search Engine by January 31, 2008. Unlike most other SBIR solicitations, the NIH topics are broad based and act as a guide to their areas of interest. Many of the participating NIH Institutes will accept a proposal that addresses an area of interest within the mission of the institute. Respondents should not be timid about asking for guidance.

Reprinted with permission from www.zyn.com/sbir

SBTDC Services Go Beyond SBIR

The North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) helps small business owners (and those interested in starting a business) meet the challenges of today's business environment, manage that ever-changing world, and plan for the future of their business. We do this by providing management counseling and educational services to small and mid-sized businesses throughout North Carolina from our 17 offices across the state - each affiliated with a college or university. Our mission is to help North Carolina businesses grow and create new jobs within the state. Most of our services are free of charge, and all SBTDC services are confidential.

To learn more about our services, read more.

SBIR Proposal Writing Basics: Who's on First, and How's in Your Work Plan

Copyright © 2008 by Greenwood Consulting Group, Inc.

As we review Phase 1 and 2 SBIR/STTR proposals, we continue to see work plans (aka research plans) that lack the detail and depth that is needed to convince a reviewer that the proposer knows how to conduct the research. This can be a deadly mistake, especially for newcomers to SBIR/STTR who have not created a reputation with the agency based on prior work. Therefore, this month we will address this important part of your proposal.

A common problem in a sketchy work plan is the lack of specifics about HOW each task will be accomplished. Most proposers include WHAT is being done, but don't talk much about HOW. Let us use a simple example of what we're talking about. Read more...

Five Ventures Taking applications for Business Plan Competition

Would you be interested in participating in UNC Charlotte’s seventh annual Five Ventures business plan competition and conference?

SBTDC clients have won previous competitions, and there has been an SBTDC client in the top five most years. The Five Ventures Conference will take place on the campus of UNC Charlotte on April 10, 2008. Five Ventures is seeking early-stage high-growth businesses/concepts that will compete in one of five categories - Biotechnology, Information Technology, Advanced Manufacturing, Green Technology or Service/Retail. Applications are being accepted until March 11.

For more information, visit www.five-ventures.com.