| Author: Aaron Hall |
In July the DOE Office of Health and Environmental Research announced awards in human genome topics from the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The highly competitive SBIR awards are designed to stimulate commercialization of federally funded research and development (R&D) for the benefit of both private and public sectors. SBIR emphasizes cutting-edge, high-risk research with potential for high payoff in hundreds of areas, including human genome research.
The SBIR program was initiated in 1982 to provide opportunities for science- and technology-based businesses with 500 employees or less to compete among themselves for federal R&D awards. In 1992 Congress reauthorized the SBIR Program until October 1, 2000. Eleven agencies, those with extramural R&D budgets of over $100 million, are required to maintain an SBIR program using a set-aside of a percentage of their budgets. The legislation provides for a gradual set-aside increase from 1.25% in 1992 to a maximum of 2.5% in FY 1997 and thereafter.
SBIR Phases
* Phase I: Awards for up to 6 months and $75,000 for a firm to explore the scientific and technical merit and feasibility of a research idea.
* Phase II: Awards for up to 2 years and $750,000 to expand on Phase I results and pursue further development. Only Phase I awardees are eligible for Phase II, which is the principal R&D effort.
* Phase III: Private or non-SBIR federal funding for commercialization of Phase II results.
SBIR Conferences National SBIR conferences are held periodically to help small business firms identify R&D and marketing opportunities. Such subjects as procurement, auditing, finance, accounting, proposal preparation, and licensing are explored. |
Author Bio:
|
| You can search for this article using: SBIR 1996 Human Genome Awards Announced, Academics & Education, Science Courses |
|
