Hopes and Cures

The National Dialogue on Entrepreneurship is following the SBIR Debate:

SBIR Bill Advances

A new proposal to reauthorize and modernize the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is making fast progress through Congress. Late last month, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed H.R. 5819, a bill to reauthorize the SBIR program—which directs federal research funds to small firms—for another two years. The bill makes some big changes in the program. First, it expands the maximum size of research grants, up to $300,000 for early stage research (Phase I) and $2.2 million for pre-commercialization work (Phase II). This move will likely lead to a smaller total number of SBIR awards each year, but bill supporters hope that fewer and larger grants will generate bigger impacts. Second, the bill directs Federal agencies to give priority to grant applications from historically underserved areas, such as rural communities. Finally, the bill also reauthorizes the Small Business Technology Transfer program, and a new Federal and State Technology Partnership (FAST) program to support expanded outreach to help new firms access SBIR funds. The bill now awaits Senate action.

Learn more about H.R. 5819, the SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2008 at the Library of Congress’ THOMAS website.