Every year the U.S.
government, through the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR)
program, allocates millions of federal research and development
dollars to help small businesses enhance their ability to compete
for federal contracts.
Since the SBIR program started
nearly 20 years ago, many new technology-based companies have gotten
their start through this program and thousands of new products have
been developed or adapted for commercialization to the government
and general public.
Locally, the Volusia County
Department of Economic Development has partnered with Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical University to assemble a SBIR technical writing team
called the Da Vinci Partnership. This partnership is designed to
support local companies by identifying funding opportunities to
commercialize locally created technologies for use by the federal
government."
This unique professional
team approach allows the county and Embry-Riddle to work with area
companies interested in applying for start-up or product development
funding by first identifying the opportunities and then by
assembling a technical writing team to draft an application to one
or more of the 11 departments of the federal government,” said Phil
Ehlinger, business manager for the county's Department of Economic
Development.
The
county’s economic development program helps to fund the drafting of
the SBIR applications through the Da Vinci Partnership. Up to 50
percent of the cost of developing the technical application is
matched by the participating company making the request. The cost
for drafting a technical proposal is about$5,000.
“Once a local company applicant
is identified, planning sessions between the company, the county’s
economic development team and engineers and technical personnel from
Embry-Riddle come together to map out an application strategy," said
Ehlinger.
Technical applications are
selected by a receiving agency of the federal government upon
completion by the Da Vinci Partnership team. The selection process
is based upon eligibility, degree of innovation, technical merit and
future market potential for commercialization.
To be eligible for a Da
Vinci matching grant, a company must be American owned, employ less
than 500 personnel and be located and operating within Volusia
County. Federal funding opportunities are available for multiple
phases.
The first phase is the
startup phase. Funding awards of up to $100,000 are made to the
participating company and Embry-Riddle for up to six months of
support to explore the technical merit or feasibility of the idea or
technology.
Second-phase awards are made
for up to $750,000 for a period of up to two years to examine the
results of the first phase and to evaluate the product's
commercialization potential. Only first-phase award winners can be
considered for second phase awards.
If your company is
American-owned and operating in Volusia County and you have idea or
existing technology that may be appropriate to other applications,
contact Phil Ehlinger at 386-248-8048 to learn more about the SBIR
Program and how the Da Vinci Partnership can help.
