The SBTDC is pleased to announce that the 12th Annual NIH SBIR/STTR Conference is coming to Raleigh, NC June 2 and 3, 2010. North Carolina is proud to be hosting this event for the first time and we want you to be a part of making this a success.

With nearly $750M available this year exclusively for small businesses to perform innovative research and R&D in the biomedical/behavioral sciences, you won't want to miss this event!

More info and registration will be available soon!

NIH SBIR/STTR Webinar

4-5 PM, February 23rd

Dr. Gregory Milman of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) will provide advice on the SBIR and STTR programs at the NIH.  In order to get the most value from this webinar, participants are strongly encouraged to review Dr. Milman's SBIR/STTR tutorials in advance.  These can be accessed at the following URL:  http://funding.niaid.nih.gov/ncn/sbir/pres.htm.

Registration: The session is free but registration is required at:
http://ncet2.org/UpcomingEvents/government-research-
funding-programs-feb10.

This session is presented in conjunction with the NIH, the National Council of Entrepreneurial Tech Transfer (NCET2) and the NC SBTDC.

Solicitations: Currently Open and Future

North Carolina SBIR/STTR Success Story

STTR and SBIR grants help build GrassRoots Biotechnology 

GrassRoots Biotechnology is an agricultural biotechnology company that was founded in July of 2007 by Dr. Philip Benfey, a Duke Biology Professor, and Doug Eisner, a recent graduate of the Duke Business School and of the SBTDC’s summer internship program.  The company was started to commercialize technologies developed by Dr. Benfey in his laboratory at Duke University, but had no funding to continue development of the technologies.  As a client of the SBTDC, GrassRoots worked with the organization to help craft its applications for SBIR and STTR federal grants.

As a result, the NSF awarded GrassRoots a $150,000 STTR grant, which, along with a matching grant from the NC Dept. of Commerce allowed the company to partner with Duke University on a research project.  It enabled GrassRoots to leverage Duke University’s lab facilities to advance its research and was critical to GrassRoots’ progress. 

Most importantly, the STTR grant helped the company obtain follow-on funding.  It provided a measure of validation of the company’s technologies, allowing GrassRoots to demonstrate its research capabilities to potential strategic partners.  In January, 2009, GrassRoots signed a strategic alliance agreement with the Monsanto Corporation to conduct research on Monsanto’s behalf.  GrassRoots now has thirteen full-time employees to meet its goals of discovering gene promoters and trait genes to increase yield of important agricultural crops. 

Simultaneously, GrassRoots is also conducting research to produce better feedstocks for the biofuels industry.  GrassRoots was recently awarded its second government grant – an SBIR from the USDA to study plant root architecture to create plants that sequester greater amounts of carbon.  Recently, GrassRoots hosted an intern from the SBTDC’s summer program for business school students.  The intern, Amar Srinivasan from Duke Business School, conducted an in depth market analysis of the biofuels markets.  This analysis will be used to chart company strategy in its biofuels business.  GrassRoots hopes to make a substantial contribution to feedstock development, enhancing the prospects of this important renewable energy.

2010 NC Nanotechnology Commercialization Conference

March 31 - April 1

The 2010 NC Nanotechnology Commercialization Conference will focus on encouraging innovation, partnerships, and commercial applications of nanotechnology statewide.  This conference will pull together entrepreneurs, business leaders, researchers, investors, and service providers from across North Carolina and the nation.  Approximately 300 participants are expected.

Conference Goals:

• To promote collaborations within the state, especially building relationships across the different sectors (small businesses, industry, academia, investors, and government)
• To promote NC businesses and to showcase emerging technologies across the state
• To promote economic development in the field of nanotechnology

Registration fee of $125 includes access to all events on both days.  To learn more about the conference and to register: www.ncscitech.com/ncncc.

One NC Small Business Innovation Program Petition

In an effort to rally support for the One NC Small Business program, a petition has been drafted by Countervail, a NC company.  The petition is available at: www.ipetitions.com/petition/onencsmallbusiness . Please take a moment to view the petition if you wish to demonstrate you support of this important program.