In This Issue ...

• Join the Team!
• Summer Internship Program Assists NC Innovation-Driven Small Businesses
• SBIR/STTR Information Sessions Available On-Demand
• SBIR/STTR All Agency Conference - June 13-15, 2022
• SBIR/STTR Agencies: Timing of Solicitation Searches and Proposal Submission
• Share of SBIR/STTR Awards by Agency: National vs. North Carolina
• SBIR/STTR Incentive and Match Funding for NC-Based Companies 
• Kickstart Your Business in 4 Weeks - June 7-28, 2022
• Selling to the Government: Learn and Network on June 6 in Asheville 

Join the Team!

The North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center's Technology Commercialization team is seeking a candidate at our NC State location. 

If you are (or know of a candidate who is) energized by advising and training innovation-driven, NC-based small businesses and faculty on business, funding, and commercialization strategies then this role could be for you. 

We've worked with hundreds of small innovative companies over the past three decades and have assisted them in raising significant SBIR/STTR and equity funding through one-on-one counseling, training sessions, and more. 

Key characteristics of an advisor on our team include a foundational knowledge of the challenges that face small innovative businesses (including funding options and strategies), an interest in promoting and providing training, and comfort with building client and partner relationships.

The Technology Commercialization Counselor position is located at our SBTDC office at NC State University. Full position posting and application instructions are available at: https://sbtdc.org/job/technology-commercialization-counselor/

The SBTDC's Summer 2022 Graduate Tech Commercialization Internship program kicked off in May with 15 enthusiastic business-minded graduate students from eight different university programs across North Carolina. 

A total of 28 North Carolina-based small, innovation-driven companies will benefit from over 5,000 hours of consultative services. 

The internship program provides graduate students with hands-on experience working on commercialization-oriented projects at entrepreneurial tech companies, many of which will be applying for Phase I or Phase II SBIR/STTR funding.

Since the program started in 2001, over 300 small businesses and 150 interns have participated in the program.

SBIR/STTR Information Sessions

Available On-Demand

The SBTDC's Tech Team recently held several SBIR/STTR webinars that are available for you to view on-demand:

• SBIR/STTR Funding Strategies: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/7127671409584146703
• NSF SBIR/STTR Program Overview and Awardee Panel: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/4353086803941519873
• One North Carolina Small Business Program - Match and Incentive Funding: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/7269131276968345615

Representatives from federal agencies with SBIR/STTR programs will attend this conference in Washington, DC, along with other SBIR/STTR experts and trainers. Conference highlights include:

• Presentations from all SBIR/STTR Agency Program Managers
• Learn how to successfully submit competitive research proposals
• Hear from government, industry, and academic experts on successful commercialization strategies
• Interact with SBIR/STTR Agency Program Managers, technology entrepreneurs, large company representatives, and researchers in Agency briefings, Expo Hall, and conference sessions
• Learn about cutting-edge opportunities in defense, agriculture, energy, and health/medicine
• Optional pre-conference workshops on SBIR/STTR Phase I, Phase II, and licensing and commercialization

Event program and registration is available at https://techconnectworld.com/World2022/about/aboutSBIR.html

There are 11 different federal agencies that participate in the SBIR program. Each follows its own calendar solicitation releases and proposal submission deadlines. As you go through the process of identifying which agencies are a potential fit for funding of your innovation, it is important to craft a timeline that you can use internally to follow when those target agencies will have open solicitations and when a proposal is due. 

A calendar of these dates for all agencies is available at https://www.sbir.gov/solicitations. Links to each of the agency pages is available at https://www.sbir.gov/agencies-landing.

Share of SBIR/STTR Awards by Agency:

National vs. North Carolina

State Science and Technology Institute (SSTI) recently analyzed the share of SBIR/STTR awards made by participating federal agencies nationally and compared that with the distribution of awards by state. In the table below, the column titled "National 10-Year Total" depicts the total SBIR/STTR funding each agency awarded over the past 10 years, divided by the total award dollars across all agencies over that same 10-year period.

Comparing these national agency distributions with that of North Carolina, one can see some clear differences. For example, while DHHS (NIH) funded almost 23% of awards nationally, NC's distribution is at 52%. Alternatively, DoD award distribution in NC is just under 30% compared to 47% nationally. Another clear discrepancy is with NASA. Nine percent of all SBIR/STTR funding is from NASA, while only 1% of awards made in NC are from NASA.

While there are many potential reasons for these discrepancies, the key takeaway is that innovation-driven companies in North Carolina should look at funding opportunities across all agencies, even though they may have a history and/or comfort level with a particular agency.

SBIR/STTR Incentive and Match Funding for

NC-Based Companies

The One NC Small Business Program, administered by the NC Board of Science, Technology, and Innovation, offers an incentive to companies that submit a SBIR/STTR Phase I proposal and a match for companies that receive a Phase I award. 

The incentive program provides the opportunity for small businesses located in North Carolina that submit a Phase I proposal to be reimbursed for expenses incurred in developing and submitting the proposal. The reimbursement limits are up to $6,000 for companies based in Tier 3 counties and up to $12,000 for companies based in Tier 1 and 2 counties. 

The match program offers funds of up to $75,000 for North Carolina companies that have received a Phase I award during the period of the match program. 

More information and eligibility criteria are available at: https://www.nccommerce.com/grants-incentives/technology-funds/one-north-carolina-small-business-program#apply-to-programs

Kickstart Your Business in 4 Weeks

June 7-28, 2022

In this free four week long cohort offered by the SBTDC, participants will learn about different aspects of starting a business, including identifying potential markets, writing a business plan, running the finances, and marketing a business. You will work with mentors and peers in fun breakout activities designed to help strengthen your business ideas and prepare you for success!

More information and registration: https://www.sbtdc.org/takingtheleap/

Selling to the Government:

Learn and Network on June 6 in Asheville

The U.S. Government alone spends more than $665 billion annually for various products and services. Yet each year, thousands of contracts bypass small businesses that do not know how federal, state, and local governments buy. The Opportunities 2022 trade show and conference is your chance to learn how to tap into this lucrative market. It will also feature information on North Carolina and South Carolina contracting opportunities resulting from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

More information and registration is available at: https://sbtdc.org/opportunities22/

MORE SBTDC TARGETED SERVICES

SELLING TO THE GOVERNMENT

The SBTDC's Government Contracting Assistance Program educates business associates on how to obtain contracts by providing comprehensive assistance in selling products and services to local, state, and federal government agencies.

Learn more >>

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

The SBTDC's International Business Development Counselors assist small and mid-sized businesses with export planning and exporting.

Learn more >>

The Technology Commercialization Services team provides one-on-one business counseling and advice to: small business owners, university researchers, and entrepreneurs looking to advance their innovations to the marketplace.

For more information, click here.

JOHN UJVARI

Interim Director, Technology Development & Commercialization

SBIR/STTR Specialist & Newsletter Editor

Statewide

RACHEL BURTON

Technology Commercialization Counselor

Central NC

BRYAN DENNSTEDT

Technology Commercialization Counselor

Western NC

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