SMALL BUSINESSES RESOURCES GUIDE

INCREASING RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Firms with innovative research and development projects, or firms that are pursuing new technologies, will find a number of resources available below to assist their efforts.

National Technology Transfer Center
The Federal Technology Center
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program

The National Institute of Standards and Technology

Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Cooperative Research and Development Agreements

The National Technology Transfer Centers are a network established by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). It offers information and access to the more than 27,000 technical innovations stemming from the space program.

The Federal Technology Center is a not-for-profit, public benefit organization chartered to help small businesses with all aspects of government contracting. It offers free counseling, training, bid-matching, referrals, and a contractor's reference library.

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program supports and provides grants to small businesses whose research may lead to new technology, major breakthroughs, innovative new products, and next-generation products or processes. Awardees are also given assistance in developing business plans and in preparing presentations for potential investors. Check out the links below for federal agencies that participate in the program.

Air Force Research Laboratory
Department of Defense
Department of Education
Department of Energy
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of the Navy
Department of Transportation
Environmental Protection Agency
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Institute of Health
National Institute on Drug Abuse
National Science Foundation

The Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR) is similar to the SBIR program, except that in exploring the feasability of projects and in its principal research, 40% of the work must be performed by the firm, and 30% must be performed by a non-profit research institution. Check out the links below for federal agencies that participate in the program.

Department of Defense
Department of Energy
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of the Navy
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Institute of Health
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
National Institute on Drug Abuse
National Science Foundation

The Manufacturing Extension Partnership is a program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. It is a nation-wide network of not-for-profit centers providing manufacturing and operations knowledge, and resources that can help your organization become more efficient and successful.

Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA) are partnering tools that allow federal laboratories to work with U.S. industries, academia, and other organizations on cooperative R&D projects.