Small business owners, federal government agency funding representatives, and business leaders from around the United States will be in Omaha for the national conference of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs at Hilton Omaha on March 7-10. Although a national conference, special emphasis is being given to assisting small businesses in Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Illinois, Colorado and Oklahoma.
The SBIR program, the largest source of early-stage, small business financing in the U.S., provides more than $2 billion annually through the federal government. Each year thousands of businesses receive up to $850,000 in federal awards to develop new products. SBIR/STTR grants fund new product development projects at the earliest stage of development – before companies are able to attract venture capital – and work through development of their product or service until it is ready for commercial release. Major federal agencies, ranging from the Department of Defense to the Department of Agriculture, provide the funding.
Conference seminars providing particular significance include work with Homeland Security, beneficial partnerships in emerging biomedical fields, and innovative software development companies that are changing the world. Additional topics of interest to be covered will include: writing a winning business plan; partnering with universities; cooperative research and development agreements with federal labs and other organizations; doing high-tech business in rural areas; protecting intellectual property and exploring financing options; and regional economic trends and how they relate to SBIR.
UNMC and UNeMed, a for-profit subsidiary of UNMC, will support the national conference by sponsoring the Networking Luncheon on Tuesday, March 8. UNeMed is a service-oriented corporation that functions as the interface between UNMC and industry to promote UNMC technology development and economic development in Omaha.
Faculty who are interested in learning more about the SBIR/STTR program are invited to attend. For complete program details – including registration details for the entire conference or individual days – visit the National SBIR/STTR Conference Center website at http://www.sbirworld.com/omaha/ or contact the SBIR Conference Center at 360-683-5742.
Conference participants will also hear success stories from SBIR recipients including Nebraska business people such as Sara Moshman, president, Metalogic, Inc.; J.A. Woollam, president of J.A. Woollam Company; and Dr. Alexander Stoyen, founder and chief executive officer of 21st Century Systems, Inc., a software company and defense contractor with its main operations in Omaha. A free bonus session will focus on dealing with venture capitalists.
Dave Andersen, executive vice president/chief operating officer of 21st Century Systems, a multiple Nebraska SBIR award recipient, said, “Our company is living proof the SBIR process can be integral to success and growth of a small business. We encourage any small business with an interest in promoting product research and development to take advantage of the unique resources and opportunities offerings at this conference. Companies can definitely learn to benefit and grow from the SBIR/STTR program.”
Glenn Davis, Nebraska District Director for SBA said, “The conference title ‘Corps of Discovery Begins with SBIR: Grow Your Business with Public-Private Financing,’ says it all.” Davis continued, “Omaha’s central location and excellent facilities provide a perfect forum to learn about upcoming research and development requirements from federal agency principals and to network with small business owners to advance your plans for growth through proven partnerships.”
SBIR/STTR National conferences are funded through the National Science Foundation in cooperation with the U.S. Small Business Administration.