Get the most out of your Inc. online experience by registering and joining the Inc. community today. Get access to all Inc.com content and priority invites to free Inc. networking events in your area.

Login using:


Or login directly through Inc.com

National Science Foundation Small Business Innovation Research Program (sbir)

 

Phase I: Up to $30,000 may be awarded for six months of applied research to prove or disprove the feasibility of the proposed project.

Phase II: Awards average $200,000 for up to two years of research, and are based on the degree of feasibility established during Phase I. A commitment from a private capital source for eventual development funding is not necessary, but given two applications of equal technical merit, the NSF will select the one that has attracted private sector investors.

Phase III: This is the commercial development phase, and no funding is involved.

Topic areas: These change from year to year and are selected by the NSF. Here's a sampling of the 22 topic areas in which proposals were solicited in 1981:

* Conservation of materials and resources

* Biosources of materials

* Advanced manufacturing processes

* Advanced chemical processes

* Microelectronics

More information: The NSF usually solicits Phase I applications each winter by issuing a "Program Solicitation" brochure, which includes instructions and forms. To get a copy, write: Roland Tibbetts, SBIR, National Science Foundation, 1800 G St. NW, Washington, DC 20550.


Sign-up for our Innovation Newsletter