Open Solicitations

Future Solicitations (expected dates)

2007 National SBIR/STTR Fall Conference will be held at the Eisemann Center from October 29 - November 1, 2007 in Richardson, Texas, part of the Dallas -- Fort Worth Metroplex. The conference is giving you the opportunity to   

• Hear presentations from SBIR program managers for all federal agencies and have the opportunity to meet with them one-on-one
• learn from high-level guest speakers, government officials, and top industry leaders;
• attend sessions that will provide a comprehensive overview on how to apply for and win government SBIR/STTR grants;
• learn how to market your business to companies looking to outsource their research and development needs;
• meet with high tech companies and research facilities exhibiting at the conference;
• hear about the successes of other companies that commercialized their product through SBIR/STTR;
• network with professionals from all phases of the process: research, development, and commercialization;
• meet with top-level defense prime contractors and learn how to partner with and secure new business

Participants will have multiple opportunities to meet and network with SBIR and STTR Program Managers, and fellow attendees, including SBIR/STTR award winners, speakers, and experts from businesses and the government willing to work with you to move your business ahead.

 The Department of Education expects to make up to 15 awards of up to $75K for Phase I SBIR this year.  Priority topics focus on assistance to persons with disabilities. 

    The topics ask for technology development to support the ability of individuals with disabilities to:  (1) access and integrate in the workplace, recreational settings, or educational settings (2) improve functional capacity and enhanced sensory or motor function (3) access employment, sustain employment, and advance in employment (4) access information technology in education, employment, and community settings (5) increase use of health-care resources.

   Applications may be mailed, hand-delivered, or submitted electronically via grants.gov by 3:30 CST on October 22, 2007.

SBIR Proposal Writing Basics: Opportunities within NSF's Emerging Opportunities Topic

Copyright © 2007 by Greenwood Consulting Group, Inc.

For the past several years, National Science Foundation (NSF) has included a unique topic called "Emerging Opportunities" in its SBIR/STTR programs.  The intent is to support innovations that have the potential to get to the marketplace relatively quickly.  In its first FY2008 Phase I SBIR/STTR solicitation, NSF has made EO the only topic on which it will accept Phase I proposals.  This presents a very interesting opportunity for SBIR/STTR applicants, but also means you need to proceed with care if you plan to submit a Phase I proposal to NSF for its December 2007 SBIR/STTR deadline.

As indicated above, the idea of the Emerging Opportunities (EO) topic is to support innovations that have near term commercialization potential.  The focus on "innovation" means that NSF still wants these projects to be typical SBIR/STTR efforts:  you have an innovative but unproven solution to a pressing problem, and you need a Phase I grant to allow you to determine if your innovation is a feasible solution to that problem.  Therefore, proposal...

'The FY 2008 SBIR/STTR Phase I Funding Notice is available at www.grants.gov under the Funding Opportunity Number: DE-PS02-07ER07-36.  The deadline for receipt of Phase I grant applications to SBIR or STTR is November 27, 2007, 7:00 p.m. CST.  The Funding Notice and Technical Topic Descriptions are also available under Phase I Funding Opportunities.''

DOE anticipates making approximately 360 awards of up to $100,000 under this announcement.  Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov to be considered for award.  You cannot submit an application through Grants.gov unless you are registered. 

If you have questions relating to the registration process, system requirements, how an application form works, or the submittal process contact Grants.gov at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.  If you have questions regarding general program requirements, contact the SBIR/STTR Program Office at 301-903-1414 or sbir-sttr@science.doe.gov. Technical questions regarding the technical topic descriptions may be directed to the appropriate topic authors while the solicitation is open.  Contact information may be found within each topic description.