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National Science FoundationNational Science Foundation
SBIR/STTR ProgramSBIR/STTR Program
F. C. Thomas AllnuttF. C. Thomas Allnutt
Division of Industrial Partnerships & InnovationDivision of Industrial Partnerships & Innovation
Vermont June 2008 – Grant Writing
Bridging the “Valley of Death”Bridging the “Valley of Death”
Research and Education-Univ.-R&D Labs
PrototypesSmall Business Tech Development
BusinessDevelopment
Seed Funding
BusinessStartups; Expansions
NSF SBIR
DODDOD DefenseDefense HHSHHS HealthHealth NASANASA SpaceSpace DOEDOE EnergyEnergy NSFNSF ~$110 Million~$110 Million DHSDHS Homeland SecurityHomeland Security USDAUSDA AgricultureAgriculture DOCDOC CommerceCommerce EPAEPA EnvironmentEnvironment DOTDOT TransportationTransportation DoEDDoED EducationEducation
Participating AgenciesParticipating Agencies
TOTAL ~ $2.3BTOTAL ~ $2.3B Est. FY 2008Est. FY 2008
NSF SBIR/STTR Innovation ModelNSF SBIR/STTR Innovation Model
PHASE IIIPHASE IIIProductProduct
Development toDevelopment toCommercialCommercial
MarketMarket
PHASE IPHASE IFeasibilityFeasibilityResearchResearch
$100k/6 mos$100k/6 mos
TaxesTaxesFederal Federal
InvestmentInvestment
PHASE IIPHASE IIResearchResearchtowardstowards
PrototypePrototype$500k/24 mos$500k/24 mos
MATCHMAKER
Phase IIBPhase IIBThird-PartyThird-Party
Investment + Investment + 1:2 NSF 1:2 NSF
MatchingMatching
Private Sector or Private Sector or Non-SBIR Non-SBIR InvestmentInvestment
Unique Unique to NSFto NSF
Phase I BPhase I BThird-PartyThird-Party
Investment + Investment + 1:2 NSF 1:2 NSF
MatchingMatching
Phase I - Solicitation TopicsPhase I - Solicitation Topics
2 Solicitations released per calendar year, typically: – Sept. for Dec. closing– March for June closing
Each Solicitation will offer 1 or more topics that represent:– Investment/business-focused technologies– Market-driven technologies– Special topics in response to National needs
Keep a watch on the topic offerings of the current solicitation for opportunities most relevant to you
New Developments!New Developments!Current solicitation is only SBIRThree topics:
• Bio/Chemical Technologies (BC)• Software & Systems (SS)• Electronics, Components, and Engineering
Systems (EL)June 10th and Dec 4th DeadlinesSTTR will be a separate solicitation
NSF is not the Final Customer
NSF is not buying a product, process, software, or intellectual property
NSF wants to see the grantee successfully commercializecommercialize the innovation
Company needs investment dollars beyond NSF SBIR/STTR
Doing Business with NSFDoing Business with NSF
Commercialization Analysis Commercialization Analysis Phase II NSF ProjectsPhase II NSF Projects
The Data– Success rate ~ 40% for 240 projects (multi-year analysis) – Success criteria – product sales I year after completion and $1
MM sales after 6 years
Risks– Market Failures > Technology Failures– 50% more likely to fail based on Market Forces
Importance of Partnerships– ~60% of successful projects have a “strategic partnership” – ~30% close university tie – Phase IIB funding: 75% success rate (vs. 31% without)
Key TakeawaysKey Takeaways
Market risks > Technical risksPartnerships and External Financing
are Critical indicators of successPartnerships take time
Most Proposals Fail BecauseMost Proposals Fail Because Lack of identified opportunity (science projects) Lack of perceived technology risk Lack of clarity (e.g. poor work plan) Other issues
– IP ownership and landscape– No clear technology advantage– Competitive landscape– Path/Time to market– Distraction to the company mission
Didn’t read the directions
TakeawayTakeaway Many SBIR/STTR programs out there!
At NSF ~$100M/year granted primarily for seed-stage development in…
– Software & Systems (SS)
– Biotechnology & Chemical Technologies (BC)
– Electronics (EL)
Program to mitigate technical risk and bridge the “Valley of Death”
Investment in Country’s Innovation Capacity
Useful Links:
www.sbir.gov (SBIR Resource/gov run)(SBIR Resource/gov run)
www.zyn.com/sbir/ (SBIR Gateway)(SBIR Gateway)
www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/sbir/ (NSF SBIR homepage)(NSF SBIR homepage)
Contact infoContact info::
Tom AllnuttTom Allnutt
email: email: [email protected]
phone: 703-292-5332phone: 703-292-5332
Questions??
BC. Bio/Chemical TechnologiesBC. Bio/Chemical Technologies A.1 Agricultural Biotechnology: Such applications include but are
not limited to pathogen and toxin diagnostics, genetic engineering, methods to reduce the use of fertilizer and/or increase efficiency of plant nutrient assimilation.
A.2 Food Biotechnology: Such applications include but are not limited to real-time methods for detection of pathogens and toxins in the food, novel tracking methods, improved sterilization methods.
A.3 Environmental Biotechnology: Such applications include but are not limited to methods to reduce human ecological and environmental impacts, microbial contamination sensing and control, removal of toxic compounds for human and animal safety, point of use water treatment, midstream wastewater treatment technologies, treatment of runoff, environmental compatibility and sustainability, pathogen and toxin diagnostics, control of exotic diseases, nanobiotechnology solutions, and water treatment.
A.4 Marine and Aquatic Biotechnology: Such applications include but are not limited to improved or novel marine species hatchery technologies, replacement of marine sourced materials in feeds, disease control, diagnostics, vaccines, alternative technologies, sensors and biosensors; marine environment extremophilic enzymes for extreme temperatures.
NSF Merit Review ProcessNSF Merit Review Process
NSF Merit Review– Typically reviewed by panel meetings– Panelists from Academe, Investment Community,
Industry– Confidential with signed CDAs by panel
Phase I – all proposals receive a minimum of 3 reviews & both technical and commercial review
Phase II – 3 reviews & both technical and in depth commercial review
SBIR/STTR ReviewsSBIR/STTR ReviewsTechnical Review
– Technical Merit– Broader Impact
Commercial Review– Team– Market Opportunity– Technology, IP, and Competition– Financial Plan
Why does NSF care about Why does NSF care about commercializationcommercialization??
What is the NSF Vision?
What is the NSF SBIR/STTR Vision?
“…catalyze the strong progress in science and engineering needed to establish world leadership and secure the Nation’s security, prosperity, and well being”
To be the pre-eminent federal resource to leverage high technology through small businesses to stimulate our nation’s innovation leadership and contribute to the U.S. economy and society
Commercial Review GuidanceCommercial Review Guidance
Revenue and Finance Plan Does the company demonstrate adequate
knowledge for the level of financial resources it will take to get the innovation to market?
Does there appear to be a plan to bring reasonable resources to bear to get this innovation to market?
Competitive Proposal - HintsCompetitive Proposal - Hints Answer the right question The right question
– Not Can it be done but Should it be done Communicate with the Program Manager Prepare an Executive Summary for the
Communication– Team– Market Opportunity– Technology– Competition
Listen to the Feedback
Doing Business with NSF (cont.)Doing Business with NSF (cont.)
Ideas do NOT equal business opportunities Do your HOMEWORK, describe the
opportunity– Remember the time component to value of
money Get some market validation BEFORE you
come to NSF SBIR/STTR Consider proposal as ADVOCATE at the
table Proposal as “selling” document
Intellectual Merit Does the proposal reflect state-of-the-art in the
major research activities proposed?
Is the proposed plan a sound approach for establishing technical and commercial feasibility?
How well qualified is the team (the PI, other key staff, consultants, and subawardees)?
Is there sufficient access to resources (materials, supplies, analytical services, equipment, facilities, etc.)?
Technology Review GuidanceTechnology Review Guidance
Broader Impact What may be the commercial and societal benefits of the
proposed activity?
Does the proposal lead to enabling technologies (instrumentation, software, etc.) for further discoveries?
Does the outcome of the proposed activity lead to a marketable product or process?
Evaluate the competitive advantage of this technology vs. alternate technologies that can meet the same market needs.
How well is the proposed activity positioned to attract funding from non-SBIR sources once the SBIR project ends?
Technology Review GuidanceTechnology Review Guidance
Commercial Review GuidanceCommercial Review GuidanceCompany/Team Based on the information in the proposal, is this is a
seed, early stage or expanding company? How well is the team poised to take this innovation
to market? Have they taken similar products to market
previously? Do they have additional outside advisors, mentors,
partners and stakeholders? Is the corporate structure consistent with the
company’s stage and vision?
Product/Technology and Competition
Has the company described the features of their product or service that are going to provide a compelling value proposition to the customer?
What validation is there from the market about the proposed value proposition?
Does the company demonstrate knowledge of the competitive landscape?
How is this company going to compete: price, performance or other?
Does the company appear to understand issues regarding IP?
Is there adequate evidence that the company knows its position in the IP landscape?
Does there appear to be a management plan for handling IP
issues as they arise?
Commercial Review Guidance (continued):Commercial Review Guidance (continued):