During SBIR Week in the South in November, Arkansas entrepreneurs can connect with decision makers from the country’s largest source of early-stage research and development funding – without leaving home.
The event is an online opportunity to get more acquainted with “America’s Seed Fund,” the SBIR and STTR programs that provide over $3.7 billion in funding to small businesses each year in a variety of technology areas.
On Monday, Nov. 2, participating federal agencies will lead live, virtual panels and sessions for the South region. Friday, Nov. 6, is designated for virtual one-on-one meetings between innovative Arkansans and the program managers.
Small technology firms, scientists, and researchers are encouraged to take part.
One-on-one meetings are a coveted opportunity to directly engage the agency SBIR/STTR program managers who seed a wide spectrum of innovative ideas and administer over 5,500 new awards annually.
Agencies invited to participate:
- Defense Health Agency (DHA)
- Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
- Department of Defense (DOD)
- Air Force
- Army
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
- Department of the Navy
- Joint Science and Technology Office for Chemical and Biological Defense (JSTO-CBD)
- Missile Defense Agency (MDA)
- Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD SBIR)
- Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCOR)
- Department of Education (DoED)
- Department of Energy (DOE)
- Department of Health and Human Services – National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- National Science Foundation (NSF)
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
National Tour Goes Virtual with Local Help
Organized by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the event is a virtual version of the national SBIR Road Tour.
Between 2015 and 2019, the SBIR Road Tour visited every state and Puerto Rico, mostly traveling by bus between stops. To protect the safety and health of the participating federal employees, support staff, and entrepreneurial communities, this year the cross-country push is 100% virtual.
The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center hosted the tour in 2016 and 2018 and planned to do so again this fall in Fayetteville. For the now-online events, ASBTDC continues to participate in planning and preparation.
The center is also ready to help interested Arkansans make the most of the opportunity. Starting Sept. 9, ASBTDC will hold a “Prep Course” series of webinars (see below). And one-on-one assistance is available from Innovation Specialist Rebecca Todd.
Contact Todd (rctodd@ualr.edu or 501-831-2584) for help completing your quad chart (required for one-on-ones with program managers) or to learn more about SBIR Week in the South: Arkansas.
Registration Is Open
Register now to guarantee your spot. There is no cost to participate.
You will register for the Monday portion, then receive follow-up communication about your one-on-one meeting schedule for Friday. Pre-registration is required to participate in one-to-one meetings.
Prep Course
Sept. 9 – Introduction to SBIR/STTR
Sept. 15 – Commercialization Essentials
Sept. 23 – Protecting Intellectual Property in SBIR/STTR Projects
Oct. 7 – What It Takes to Win: SBIR Awardee Panel