Grants and Technical Assistance Available to NJ Small Businesses Seeking Federal SBIR/STTR Funding
“The innovation and research and development (R&D) contributions coming from New Jersey’s technology and life sciences communities are both impressive and vital to the creation of groundbreaking drugs and therapies,” CSIT Chairman Gunjan Doshi said. “Enabling entrepreneurs to maximize financial and educational benefits as they vie for federal funding and work toward commercialization will serve to strengthen the competitiveness of New Jersey small businesses on the national stage.”
The federal SBIR and STTR grant programs provide more than $3 billion each year to small businesses in a variety of technology and life sciences areas that propose innovative ideas that meet specific federal R&D needs. The SBIR program enables small businesses to explore their technological potential and provides the incentive to profit from its commercialization. The STTR program funds cooperative R&D partnerships between small businesses and research institutions such as universities, federal R&D centers, or non-profits. The programs are open to U.S.-based, for-profit small businesses with fewer than 500 employees.
Initially capitalized with $500,000, the New Jersey SBIR/STTR Support Program has two core components: technical assistance for companies applying for federal SBIR/STTR funding and direct grant funding for businesses that are currently part of the federal program. The technical assistance piece of the program offers help with proposal preparation, specialized reviews, and critiques of draft proposals. The CSIT will also create a State SBIR/STTR one-stop website and establish a SBIR/STTR Alumni Advisory Group to provide additional support for New Jersey businesses that are applying to the federal SBIR/STTR Programs.
In addition to providing these resources for applicants, the CSIT will also provide up to $125,000 of matching grant funding to one New Jersey technical assistance provider per year that is applying to the Federal and State Technology (FAST) Grant Program. The FAST Program provides federal financial assistance to local organizations for outreach, technical assistance, and financial assistance initiatives that increase the number of SBIR/STTR applications.
Applications for this component of the program are due January 13, 2020.
The second component of the New Jersey SBIR/STTR Support Program offers $375,000 in matching grants to New Jersey small businesses that have been successful in the federal SBIR/STTR programs. The CSIT will award $25,000 matching grants for general business operating costs to seven businesses that have received a federal Phase I SBIR/STTR award and $50,000 bridge funding grants to four NJ small businesses that have successfully completed Phase I and have applied for Phase II of the federal SBIR/STTR program. Companies can use these funds to maintain project activities and cover general operating costs.
Applications for these grants are due January 20, 2020.
Application Timelines
Component 1: Grants for Technical Assistance Providers
Application Available: December 16, 2019
Application Due: January 13, 2020
Winners Announced:
February 21, 2020
Component 2: Grants for Businesses that have been Successful in the SBIR/STTR Program
Application Available: December 16, 2019
Application Due: January 20, 2020
Winners Announced:
February 21, 2020
