07.23.20
Innovation and Tech Transfer Small Businesses Have New Tools to Learn How to Secure Funding,
Tammy Allen, Director | Marketing & Programs, The NIIC
Virtual Webinar Series to Educate About SBIR/STTR
For Immediate Release
July 13, 2020, Fort Wayne, Ind.— Each year $2.5 billion non-dilutive grant and contract funding is awarded to qualified small businesses through the federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The purpose is to advance and commercialize game-changing technologies. Winning an award is highly competitive in these federal programs. It requires strategic proposals and a thorough understanding of funding agency goals.
That’s where the NIIC’s FAST-IN Program can help through a new workshop series. Participants will learn how to write award-winning proposals. There is no charge for participating in the workshops, and registration is open. Details are available at TheNIIC.Org/our-events. “We are partnering with BBCetc experts to train business builders to write and submit successful SBIR/STTR proposals to fund their research and businesses,” said Karl R. LaPan, President and CEO, The NIIC. BBCetc is nationally recognized for its success in helping emerging companies win SBIR/STTR funding and use it strategically to propel growth.
The following are the workshops included in this series. Additional information and registration links are found at https://niic.net/our-events/.
Tuesday, July 28, 2020, SBIR Introduction and Overview—Megan Varnum, Ph.D., Principal Consultant, BBCetc, leads this workshop. Participants will learn about SBIR/STTR eligibility, the difference between SBIR and STTR, participating agencies, and critical components of a competitive proposal.
Tuesday, August 11, 2020, Contracting versus Granting—Selecting the Right Agency—Jerry Hollister, Principal Consultant, BBCetc, will lead this workshop and train about the 11 SBIR/STTR participating agencies, their missions, and what technologies they fund. Participants will also learn how to determine the best fit for their businesses. This will include where to find the topics of interest, what has been funded previously, and how to contact the agencies.
Tuesday, August 25, 2020, Formatting and Readability—Megan Marnum, Ph.D., Principal Consultant, will lead on the topic of the importance of keeping the reviewer satisfied and engaged. Participants will learn how to improve the competitiveness of proposals through tips and best practices for making it look good and read well. Participants will learn how different agencies manage the review process and how to be kind to reviewers with formatting and grantsmanship tips for success.
Wednesday, September 9, 2020, Preparing a Credible Budget for SBIR/STTR Proposal—Kris Bergman, Managing Partner, BBCetc, will train participants on how to develop a proper budget for a grant or contract proposal. This is essential. A proper budget can be a useful tool to drive the project from start to finish. This workshop covers what costs need to be included, how to write a budget justification, if the company can afford to pursue the project, what indirect rate should be used, and more.
Tuesday, September 22, 2020, Essentials of Commercialization—Becky Aistrup, Managing Partner, BBCetc, will lead this workshop. Commercialization and transition plans can be a crucial differentiator in the SBIR/STTR programs. It is essential to know what the funding agencies look for and how to develop a good plan. This workshop will cover the requirements and guide participants through where to start, what to include. Agency expectations for commercialization plans in Phase I and II projects will be covered. Participants will also be instructed and coached about where to find cost-effective market research, what quality support & commitment letters are will also be.
The FAST-IN Program is partially funded through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small business Administration (SBA) and The NIIC. Purdue University and The Innovation Connector are partners in the FAST-IN Program to provide locations for workshops and essential connections to potential resources.
About The NIIC
467 new products launched, 189 patent applications submitted or granted, and 2,290 jobs created—that is what entrepreneurs have achieved through The NIIC since its inception 20 years ago. The NIIC has also connected Northeast Indiana companies to attract $91 million in grants and capital.
The NIIC is a non-profit, vibrant entrepreneurial community designed to advise entrepreneurs to plan, launch, and grow successful business ventures by moving ideas into action. The NIIC’s 55-acre campus is a U.S. Small Business Administration HUB Zone and a designated Opportunity Zone through the U.S. Treasury. The NIIC is the country’s only ISO9001:2015 registered business incubation and acceleration program. The NIIC received global recognition in 2020 as the International Business Innovation Association’s Mixed-Use Entrepreneur Center of the Year and recipient of the prestigious Dinah Adkins Award, one of InBIA’s top two honors. TheNIIC.org. Click here for The NIIC press kit.
Contact: Tammy Allen, Director, Marketing & Programs, info@niic.net, 260-407-1731
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