The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs provide an opportunity for small, high technology companies and research institutions (RI) to participate in Government sponsored research and development (R&D) efforts in key technology areas.
If you are a small business concern with 500 or fewer employees, or a non-profit RI, such as a university or a research laboratory with ties to an SBC, then NASA encourages you to learn more about these programs and significant sources of seed funding for the development of your innovations. The SBIR Phase I contracts last for 6 months with a maximum funding of $70,000, and Phase II contracts last for 24 months with a maximum funding of $600,000. The STTR Phase I contracts last for 12 months with a maximum funding of $100,000, and Phase II contracts last for 24 months with the maximum contract value being increased from $500,000 to $600,000 as of the 2003 Solicitation.
Historically, the ratio of the number of Phase I proposals to awards for SBIR is 7:1 and for STTR is 5:1. About 40 percent of the completed Phase I projects receive funding for Phase II development.
For more information about how to participate in the SBIR/STTR program go to http://sbir.gsfc.nasa.gov/SBIR/SBIR.html.