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January 20, 2023

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America's Seed Fund offers resources to small businesses

January 2023

• Don't Miss...

• SBIR News & Updates

• Events & Education

• R&D Spotlight

• Local Assistance – Meet FAST and New Resources

• Get Inspired - SBIR/STTR Awards and Success Stories

• SBIR/STTR Funding Opportunities 

Don't Miss...

SBA to Host Virtual Events February 6-9 to Encourage 2023 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition Applications

The 2023 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition aims to bolster collaborative infrastructure across entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs) to increase the pipeline and success of STEM/R&D-focused innovators and entrepreneurs. To encourage and inform potential competition applicants, the SBA is holding a series of virtual convenings for potential applicants February 6-9 from 3-4pm EST each day. Convenings will provide information on the competition and facilitate connections between ESOs and potential partners working on similar themes across the nation. Stage One Catalyze submissions are being accepted now until February 24. Multiplier Bonus Prizes will be available for new and rural-focused Ecosystem Partners. Learn about the $13 Million in prizes available and how to apply by participating in one or more of the information sessions.

Biden-Harris Administration Accepting Applications for SBA Veteran Small Business Certification Program

The SBA began accepting applications through the Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) program as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to expanding access to resources for Veterans and other underserved populations. The improvements in the customer experience for Veteran entrepreneurs and business owners made by VetCert will build upon the $25 billion in government contract spending with service-disabled Veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs) in Fiscal Year 2021. Learn more.

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Multi-Sector Actions to Eliminate Systemic Barriers in STEMM 

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) unveiled a national initiative to coordinate public, private, and philanthropic efforts to expand access and opportunity across science and technology fields. The multi-sector commitments will drive transformative change across the American science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) ecosystem, and include the U.S. Small Business Administration’s launch of the 2023 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition to close the funding gap and support for innovators and communities who have historically been excluded from access to the innovation economy.

Congress FY 2023 Spending Levels Provide Opportunity for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Federal innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives received substantial new funding under the omnibus spending passed on Dec. 23. The legislation, which totals $1.7 trillion and covers both regular FY 2023 appropriations and supplement funding, provides a total of $1.8 billion for programs authorized by this year’s CHIPS and Science Act and increases funding for multiple long-standing efforts. Read more from SSTI for highlights from the funding bill for regional innovation economies.

SBIR News & Updates

NSF Regional Innovation Engines Builder Platform – Vision and Capability Statement due January 20

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is seeking community input to help develop, launch, and run a Builder Platform to support anticipated NSF Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines). The Builder Platform and accompanying team will be responsible for providing the tailored support networks and services needed by and vital to the growth of individual NSF Engines. To express interest as a lead organization for the Builder Platform, NSF invites submission of a two-page Vision and Capability Statement by January 20, 2023. NSF also welcomes feedback about the Builder Platform without expressions of interest in leading the effort.

MBDA Capital Readiness Program – Emails of Intent Due January 31

Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) recently announced their newest grant opportunity! MBDA’s Capital Readiness Program is designed to help close the opportunity gap for underserved entrepreneurs, including minority and women entrepreneurs, by fostering healthy entrepreneurial ecosystems via grant awardees who will: 1) serve minority, women, and other underserved populations; 2) help entrepreneurs build capacity; 3) attract and provide access to capital opportunities; 4) provide access to networks.

MBDA encourages organizations that have not traditionally focused their services to meet the needs of underserved populations communities to form strategic alliances with entities that serve those communities to apply for this funding opportunity. Visit MBDA.gov for more information. (Content prepared by MBDA)

NIH Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hubs (REACH) - Grant applications due February 9

NIH has committed $1 million per year for four years to support five new Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hubs (REACH) hubs, the third cohort of its regional biomedical proof-of-concept and accelerator program (RFA-OD-23-005). Through this program, NIH will provide the qualifying institutions with the funds to seed the creation of academic entrepreneurship Hubs. Pre-application webinar was held December 12 and recording will be posted. Applications due February 9.

NSF Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity (EPIIC) – Preliminary proposals due February 15

NSF'sEnabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity (EPIIC) funding opportunity is a new $20 million program encouraging minority-serving institutions, two-year institutions, primarily undergraduate institutions, and other emerging research institutions to participate in regional innovation ecosystems. The program will provide training and networking support to help build more inclusive ecosystems. EPIIC will provide up to $400,000 over three years to develop the capacity and institutional knowledge needed to build new partnerships and secure future external funding, enabling awardees to tap into their regional innovation ecosystems and potentially into an NSF Regional Innovation Engine. Brief preliminary proposals are due February 15.

Events & Education

Insider Info: DoD’s three most common findings for NIST SP 800-171 audits | January 24, 2023 2:00 to 3:00 PM (ET) | Register.

Understanding the NIH Review & Resubmission Process | January 24, 2023 2:00 to 3:00 PM (ET) | Learn more and register here.

SBIR/STTR Proposal Preparation Workshop: NASA's January FOA | January 31, 2023 1:00 to 2:00 PM (ET) | Learn more and register.

SBIR 101 Hybrid Workshop | February 2, 2023 4:00 to 5:00 PM (ET) | Register here.

ICYMI 

• The Department of Education SBIR highlighted 2022 program and announces the release of its 2023 program solicitations, which intend to fund the development of new education technology products.

Look for upcoming events at sbir.gov/events.

R&D Spotlight

Federal Higher-ed R&D Funding Jumps Over $3 billion 

New data for FY 2021 reveals that research and development spending by academic institutions totaled $89.9 billion, an increase of $3.4 billion (4%) increase from the previous year. Federally funded R&D expenditures accounted for $3.0 billion of the total increase. Universities also reported an increase of 3.25 ($149 million more) in R&D expenditures funded from state and local governments, while that from nonprofit organizations and businesses saw a decrease. Read more

Local Assistance – Meet FAST and New Resources

The Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program funded 44 organizations this year, building the SBIR/STTR ecosystem through outreach, technical assistance, and financial support. Meet two FAST awardees:

• Maine Technology Institute (MTI) – MTI plays a key part in the State’s economic development strategy and is a significant driver in expanding research and development to creating new innovative ventures.

• MNSBIR, Inc. – MNSBIR, Inc. has facilitated and catalyzed more than $63M of SBIR/STTR investments for more than 55 small businesses.  

Find more information regarding local assistance and all 44 awardees at: sbir.gov/local-assistance.

Get Inspired - SBIR/STTR Awards and Success Stories

EPA Awards Research Funding to 25 Small Businesses to Develop Environmental Technologies

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $2,497,134 in research funding for 25 small businesses to develop technologies that address some of our most pressing environmental problems. Projects include technologies for detecting methane emissions, methods to prolong the shelf life of foods and reduce food waste, software systems to improve recycling and materials management, and a water sampling device to detect the presence of PFAS. For more information, see the EPA press release.

U.S. Army xTech Program awards $445,000 for joint defense manufacturing technology solutions

As a part of the xTechManufacture competition finals, 10 companies presented their innovative technology solutions to the Joint Defense Manufacturing Technology Panel on Monday, Dec. 5, at the 2022 Defense Manufacturing Conference in Tampa, Florida. Of the 10 finalists, three companies received first-, second-, and third-place cash prizes of $125,000, $75,000, and $25,000, respectively, while the other companies each received $10,000. Read more.

Get inspired by more SBIR company stories at sbir.gov/news/success-stories.

SBIR/STTR Funding Opportunities

Find more funding opportunities and specific topic areas at sbir.gov/funding. 

HIGHLIGHTED OPPORTUNITIES

Department of Transportation (DOT)

• The pre-solicitation period for U.S. DOT’s FY23 solicitation is from January 4, 2023, through February 3, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). View the pre-solicitation instructions and full descriptionsof U.S. DOT’s proposed FY23 Phase I solicitation research topics. 

• U.S. DOT’s FY23 Phase I solicitation is tentatively scheduled to open on February 7, 2023.

• An informational webinar about the solicitation is tentatively scheduled for February 9, 2023, at 1:00 pm ET. More information on how to register for this webinar will be available on the U.S. DOT SBIR website and in the solicitation when the solicitation is issued.

Department of Energy (DOE) 

• FY 2023 SBIR/STTR Phase I Release 2 Topics were released on November 7. The Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) was issued on December 12, and the FOA webinar was held on December 16 at 2 PM ET. Topic and FOA webinars are recorded and available for viewing here. Letters of Intent were due January 3, 2023, and the application is due February 23, 2023 at 11:59 PM ET.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 

• FY 2023 SBIR and STTR Solicitations expected to be released on January 10, 2023, with an offer due date on March 13, 2023. 

CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES 

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

• HEAL Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) Program: Embedded Entrepreneurs for Small Businesses in Pain Management (SB1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) - The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to facilitate the transition of previously funded SBIR and STTR Phase II and Phase IIB projects in pain management to the commercialization stage by providing additional assistance for private partnering activities through the Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) program. Specifically, this FOA supports the addition of entrepreneurial expertise into small business leadership teams along with supporting partnering activities to aid in commercialization through private third-party funding or partnership with industry. Open Date: March 5, 2023.

Department of Defense (DoD) – All open topics 

DoD Annual SBIR 2022.4 / STTR 2022.D – Solicitation is open throughout the year; topics have individual open/close dates.   

Topics currently open: 

ARMY - Opened January 1, closes January 31, 2023 - 3 topics, including:  

• Diver Performance Monitoring System (DPMS)

• Wearable Radiation Sensors

• Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Open Topic

Opened January 17, closes February 13, 2023 - 1 topic:

• Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) Readiness Kit

National Science Foundation (NSF) 

• FY 2022 SBIR/STTR Phase I and Phase II posted November 21, 2022. Project Pitches are always accepted. The next submission window close date is March 1, 2023. 

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 

• Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH, CDC, and FDA for Small Business Innovation Research Grant Applications [R43/R44] with submission dates January 5 and April 5, 2023. 

• Notice of Special Interest: SBIR Technology Transfer (NOT-NS-22-017) is intended to help move commercially viable technologies from the NIH Intramural Program to the marketplace.

• Funding to hire new and diverse talent at existing SBIR/STTR awardee companies. Administrative supplements can cover the salary of an early-career scientist from underrepresented groups in biomedical research and the biotech sector.

More funding opportunities from across HHS. 

About America's Seed Fund Update

Our goal is to provide a range of information that will be valuable to the SBIR/STTR programs’ various stakeholders, and future issues will include features on program data, impacts and policies, and more. If you have suggestions, let us know at [email protected].

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About SBA Office of Innovation and Technology

The U.S. Small Business Administration serves as the coordinating agency for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs - also known as America's Seed Fund. SBA also manages the related Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program and Growth Accelerator Fund Competition. Learn more at sbir.gov.