 |
August 2008
Vol 8, Issue 5 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 John
UjvariSBTDC Statewide Program Specialist |
|
|
Environmental SBIR Topics: NSF / EPA Collaboration
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is collaborating with the National Science Foundation (NSF) on their SBIR Solicitation's environmental topics. Click here to review a FactSheet prepared to show the linkages between EPA topics and NSF topics. The next NSF solicitation closes December 4, 2008, so it is perfect timing for anyone currently interested in submitting an environmental technology proposal to NSF. It is an NSF SBIR proposal, so companies need to make sure they meet all the NSF requirements, and not the EPA SBIR requirements.
The SBTDC is pleased to launch a new upgraded website at www.SBTDC.org. Please take a moment to peruse the site and take advantage of the plethora of information there.
Are you interested in being a part of the SBTDC or know of someone looking for a career that blends science and business? We are expanding our Technology Commercialization team, and will soon be seeking counselors for the Greensboro, Raleigh, and Eastern NC regions. Please visit our website for information on these openings.
NC SBIR Incentive/Match Programs and Green Business Fund
NC appropriated $3.5 million to provide matching grants for Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer assistance ($1.3 million less than last fiscal year). The department also will receive $1 million in additional funds for the NC Green Business Fund, which provides grants to private businesses with fewer than 100 employees to encourage the growth of a green economy in the state. The first 13 awards for the Green Business Fund were announced late last month by Lt. Gov. Bev Perdue.
The SBTDC provides SBIR proposal reviews to NC based companies at no cost. We look at the business elements, clarity and flow, but not the technology aspects. Please submit your proposal to me via email in Word format 14 days before the agency deadline (August 5th for NIH). If you would like to see a recent NIH grant writing presentation that was presented at our half-day SBIR seminar in the Hamner Conference Center in RTP, please email John Ujvari.
SBIR Proposal Writing Tip: Do You Look Like an SBIR Mill?
The following proposal writing tip was provided by Gail & Jim Greenwood. Past SBIR proposal writing articles written by the Greenwoods are available on the Greenwood Consulting Group, Inc. (GCGI) web site. Copyright© 2008 by Greenwood Consulting Group, Inc.
You may have heard the term "SBIR mill" and wondered what it meant. Basically, this a less-than-complimentary reference to a small business that receives a lot of Phase I and II awards, but does not seem to do much with them in terms of Phase III commercialization.
SBIR mills are a bad thing. They are contrary to the intent of the SBIR/STTR programs, which is to support innovations that will become "useful" products and services for customers like the government, industry, and consumers. They also are often bad at math: given that many firms lose money on Phase Is and just break even on Phase IIs, an SBIR mill may never make money because it doesn't go to Phase III where profits are usually made. Read more...
