NIH Offers SBIR Niche Assessment Program to Phase I Awardees

Please visit the folowing link for more detailed information about this new program:
http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-122.html

NIH announces the availability of a Niche Assessment Program for its SBIR Phase I awardees in fiscal years (FY) 2009 and FY 2010. NIH has contracted with Foresight Science and Technology to perform Technology Niche Analyses (TNA™) for 50 NIH SBIR Phase I awardees. For each eligible SBIR Phase I project, the TNA™ will assess potential uses of the technology and result in a report that includes:

• the needs and concerns of end-users that drive the competitive opening in the market;
• competing technologies and products;
• the competitive advantage of the technology;
• who the key competitors are likely to be;
• the likely price customers will pay;
• what will drive the market;
• the key standards, regulations, and certifications influencing buyer acceptance;
• the market size and what share should be sought;
• the potential customer, licensee, investor, or other commercialization partner; and,
• a commercialization strategy that includes tasking and a schedule for implementation.

Important Information

Only Fifty (50) slots are available and will be filled on a “first come, first served” basis. Only NIH FY 09 and FY 10 SBIR Phase I awardees (not STTR) are eligible to participate. For those with multiple awards, only one project per company will be accepted for Group A (see below), but others will be considered if space is available in Group B. The groups will consist of 25 slots each. You may sign up at any time for either but it is suggested that you carefully consider your group selection in relation to when you plan to submit your Phase II application as the Technology Niche Analysis™ report may be helpful in the preparation of the commercialization plan that is required in an SBIR Phase II application.

Again, please visit the following link for all the details about this new program.