Air Force has $300M to spend on new SBIR grants

The Air Force wants to work with small businesses on developing conceptual ideas through the research and development phases until the concepts lead to military or commercial uses.

The department’s search is part of its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and its Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR). The programs support R&D contracts.

The Air Force intends to provide more than $300 million annual funding to support small businesses’ conceptual development work.

“We’re trying to foster innovative technology solutions for the warfighter and the U.S. Air Force SBIR and STTR programs,” said David Sikora, the Air Force SBIR/STTR program manager.

Sikora is going on the road to discuss SBIR and STTR with small companies. He will visit Bozeman, Mont., Idaho Falls and Boise, Idaho, and Salt Lake City from September 22 to 26.

Sikora will meet with business owners and community leaders to discuss funding for high-risk projects that meet Air Force needs, intellectual property rights for the small business, and Air Force assistance with transitioning or commercializing SBIR and STTR funded technology.

The SBIR and STTR are mission-oriented programs that integrate the needs and requirements of the Air Force through R&D topics that have military and commercial potential.

Congress established SBIR to fund R&D through companies with less than 500 employees. STTR was established to fund cooperative R&D projects with small business and nonprofit U.S. research institutions.

Get more information about the roadshow and the programs at www.afsbirsttr.com.