Commercialization Event: “From R&D to the Marketplace”

WHAT: 
This full seminar will be focused on commercialization for early stage tech companies. Content will be applicable across technology sectors and agencies. The session will provide a review of SBIR/STTR program details and discuss technological innovation and commercial merit from an SBIR perspective. Leading the seminar will be Lisa Kurek.  Lisa is back by popular demand after receiving stellar reviews from her previous sessions in North Carolina.   Lisa's bio is available at:  http://www.bioconsultants.com/team.html

WHEN: 
Tuesday, December 8th from 9AM - 4PM

WHERE: 
Research Triangle Park, Sigma Xi

WHY:   
No matter if you are seeking equity, debt or grant funding, the commercialization plan associated with your R&D plays a strong role in the decision process.  Approximately 40-50% of a proposal's merit is based upon the commercial potential of the end product!
  
Registration:   
http://www.sbtdc.org/events/sbir/techcomm/

SBIR Introduction Webinar – 11/11

The final SBIR Introductory Webinar for fall 2009 will be held on Wednesday, November 11th from 3 pm to 4 pm.  Learn about the SBIR and STTR programs from the comfort of your own office. To register for the free session, visit:  www1.gotomeeting.com/register/264005696

SBIR Reauthorization Update

On October 26th, the US Senate passed a bill to extend the SBIR/STTR programs for six months.  The bill will now be reviewed and voted on by the House.  The DoD, in a separate bill will likely be authorized until September 30, 2010.

Up-to-date information about how the SBIR reauthorization plays out is available at   www.zyn.com/sbir.

NC Match Program Update

As noted in the September issue of the NC SBIR newsletter, the One NC Small Business Program was funded at $700,000 far below the level of funding last year.  As a result the, incentive program is on hold this year.  Final details on how the matching program will be administered will likely be published in a few weeks.  Given the reduction in programmatic funding, the award amount may be reduced from the $75K level as provided last fiscal year, and it is likely that only companies that have never been awarded a match will be eligible. 

Again none of this is set in stone yet.  Once final details have been published, a bulletin will be sent out.

SBIR Success Story: Alditri Technologies

Raleigh, NC - Alditri Technologies, Inc. announced recently that it has received a second National Science Foundation grant for the fabrication of nano-enhanced materials.

The National Science Foundation has awarded Alditri Technologies a second small business grant to pursue research in the field of textile nano-modification for specialty applications.  Professor Parsons’ research group in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NC State University will collaborate in this work to develop platforms for virus filtration.

Alditri was founded in 2008 by Drs. G. Kevin Hyde and Gregory N. Parsons and is built upon fundamental discoveries made by Dr. Hyde during his dissertation research while with the Parsons nanotechnology research group.  Currently, Alditri employs two full-time employees who collaborate with a number of students and experts at NC State University.

Alditri has been the recipient of two NSF small business awards: a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant was received in 2008 and, just recently, a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant was received in 2009.  The focus of the work involved in these two grants is the production of textile-based platforms for use in filtration devices.  Alditri seeks to harness the power of nanotechnology to solve significant problems faced by manufacturers of these specialty devices.  In particular, with its STTR research, Alditri has engineered a material that can be used to capture dangerous prions from donated blood, significantly reducing the cost associated with manufacturing blood filtration devices.  Alditri strongly believes this work has the potential to increase the ready supply of disease-free blood, thereby having a tremendous positive impact on world population health.  In its current SBIR research, Alditri is working to develop filtration platforms for use in removing viruses from biopharmaceutical streams.  This work aims to provide safer and less expensive biotherapeutics. 

The NSF’s small business grants have allowed Alditri to pursue its novel research.  The company’s founders are firm believers that the STTR/SBIR program allows grantees the opportunity to create compelling arguments for their solutions and thereby provide a solid foundation for the promotion of their products/technologies.

Alditri is thankful for the significant contributions made by the staff of the North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center.  Dan Blankenship, a Senior Counselor at the NC State University location, worked with Alditri representatives to perform market research for the commercialization portions of proposals, a section that Alditri has found to be crucial in persuading reviewers.  Alditri also participated in the NC SBTDC MBA Summer Intern program. Tejas Sangoi, an MBA student from NC State University, worked very closely with Alditri throughout the summer to prepare its STTR Phase II proposal.  Alditri considers the work performed by Mr. Sangoi to be an essential component of what Alditri believes to be a very convincing commercialization plan.  Alditri expects to learn whether it has received Phase II funding later this year which will allow continued research in the application of nanotechnology in solving persistent issues in specialty filtration.