SBIR/STTR Grant Support Program
Mr. Mark Brady
Innovation Strategist
Business Oregon
121 S.W. Salmon St., Suite 205
Portland, OR 97204
(503) 229-5223
mark.brady@oregon.gov
Purpose of Initiative
As part of the state of Oregon’s effort to further innovation and entrepreneurship, Oregon’s SBIR/STTR Support Program provides funding assistance to help Oregon businesses access federal SBIR and STTR funds. To assist Oregon businesses in accessing the federal grant funds, Business Oregon’s support program includes two types of grants: (1) Phase 0 Grant—grant to prepare an application to a federal agency for a SBIR/STTR Phase I grant, and; (2) Phase 00 Grant—grant to prepare an application to a federal agency for a SBIR/STTR Phase II or Fast Track grant.
Eligibility
For Phase 0 and Phase 00 grants, eligibility requirements is as follows:
- Applicant must be a traded-sector business. “Traded sector” businesses are defined in Oregon statute as “industries in which member firms sell their goods or services into markets for which national or international competition exists.”
- Applicant must be an Oregon-based business. “Oregon-based” is defined as “51% or more of the company’s employees are based in Oregon.”
- Applicant must meet all federal SBIR/STTR guidelines.
- Applicant may not receive concurrent funding support from other sources that duplicates the purpose of the Phase 0 grant award.
- Applicant must not have received a Phase 0 grant award within the previous 12 months.
Application Process
Applications are accepted year-round. An application must be received by Business Oregon at least four weeks prior to the targeted federal agency’s application deadline. For additional information on the application process, visit Oregon4biz.
Award Details
For Phase 0, the grants are used to prepare an application to a federal agency for a SBIR/STTR Phase I grant. The maximum grant award available to an applicant is $5,000. For Phase 00, the grants are used to prepare an application to a federal agency for a SBIR/STTR Phase II or Fast Track grant. The maximum grant award available to an applicant is $5,000.
Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI) Gap Funding Program
Mr. Jay Lindquist
Director, ONAMI Commercialization
(503) 522-7031
jlindquist@onami.us
Purpose of Initiative
The Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI) commercialization program provides support to early-stage technologies and companies connected with Oregon university researchers and facilities.
Eligibility
Eligible parties include collaborative company/university teams of Oregon startups and small businesses and ONAMI member researchers or shared user facility staff.
Application Process
Proposals relevant to commercialization of nanoscience and/or microtechnologies may be submitted by ONAMI member faculty, ONAMI-affiliated shared-user facility managers, or ONAMI members from PNNL.
Award Details
Gap grants will be made to research institution Principal Investigators and/or facilities as part of collaborative university/company teams to help with the development and testing of prototypes, demonstration of fabrication process, or to cross the gap between the current status of the technology with customer requirements. Maximum awards are $250,000.
Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI) Launch Funding Program
Mr. Jay Lindquist
Director, ONAMI Commercialization
(503) 522-7031
jlindquist@onami.us
Purpose of Initiative
ONAMI Launch Funding (Pre-Gap) is an early-stage program for ONAMI Members with an idea that has commercial value and who intend to form a company within the next year. The funding is to help refine and/or validate the proof-of-concept and assist in optimal company formation.
Eligibility
The Launch Funding program is open only to ONAMI Members. If you are an Oregon university faculty, staff or administrator and not an ONAMI member, it is suggested that one looks into a membership before submitting a formal proposal.
Application Process
To inquire about funding, an initial email inquiry to ONAMI is needed to begin the conversation. If ONAMI is supportive, you will be asked to prepare a formal proposal. Proposals are reviewed by ONAMI staff who may request revisions before scheduling a presentation to the ONAMI Commercialization Advisory Council (CAC). If the proposal is selected for presentation and the CAC review is favorable, staff will work with you to structure the project.
Award Details
Up to $75,000 in funding will be provided to help refine or validate the proof-of-concept and assist in company formation.
Oregon Built Environment & Sustainable Technologies (BEST) Early Stage Investments
Ms. Vanessa Margolis
Portfolio Manager
Oregon BEST
(503) 298-6005
vanessa.margolis@oregonbest.org
Purpose of Initiative
Oregon BEST provides access to early-stage investments that catalyze cleantech innovations into thriving businesses. These investments are designed to bridge the gap between traditional research and development (R&D) funding and private investment. Early-stage investments drive economic development throughout the state while commercializing technologies that benefit the environment.
Eligibility
Oregon BEST supports compelling collaborations between a small Oregon business and at least one of our partner universities: Oregon Institute of Technology, Oregon State University, Portland State University, and the University of Oregon. Early-Stage investments are subject to recommendation by Oregon BEST’s Commercialization Advisory Board and subsequent approval by Oregon BEST’s Board of Directors. For more information about eligibility requirements contact Vanessa Margolis.
Application Process
For more information on the guidelines and cut-off dates contact Vanessa Margolis.
OCTRI & Business Oregon SBIR/STTR Phase 0 (Application Support)
Mr. Jonathan Jubera
OHSU/OCTRI Biomedical Innovation Program
Oregon Health & Science University
(503) 805-8179
jubera@ohsu.edu
Purpose of Initiative
Business Oregon has joined forces with the Biomedical Innovation Program (BIP) at Oregon Health & Science University to help small businesses in Oregon access funding through successful SBIR/STTR grant applications. This program is intended for businesses that are pursuing healthcare-related innovations and technologies. The Phase 0 program provides expert reviews of draft SBIR/STTR grant proposals, a process that improves an application’s competitiveness and the chances of funding.
Eligibility
Applicants must be traded sector Oregon-based small businesses. “Traded sector” is defined as industries in which member firms sell their goods or services into markets for which national or international competition exists. Applicant businesses must be healthcare-related. Applicants must meet all federal SBIR/STTR eligibility requirements and must conduct at least 51% of the research they describe in their federal proposal within Oregon.
Application Process
Phase 0 applications are due at least nine weeks prior to the federal agency’s SBIR/STTR due date. A decision is announced within 10 days of application submission. Awardees work with BIP staff to request and/or approve answers. Awardees must then submit their draft SBIR/STTR application to reviewers at least four weeks before the federal agency’s due date, which gives reviewers adequate time to provide good feedback. Reviews are then returned to awardees no later than two weeks after they submit their draft SBIR/STTR application to the reviewers.
Award Details
Phase 0 awardees will receive $1,2752 to pay for three written critiques of their Phase I, Phase II or Fast-track proposal. Applicants can request up to $3,725 for SBIR/STTR grant application preparation services in addition to the $1,275 awarded for the services of the three reviewers. Examples of allowable expenses include: biostatistics and statistical design support; business plan assistance; consultant or mentor services for SBIR/STTR proposal preparation including grant writing and graphic design services; preliminary data preparation or analysis; patent and IP analysis; and OHSU research cores and shared resources.
Updated April 2018 by Rachel Werth
