This idea is targeted at Universities and small businesses interested in potential partnerships for the newly released DoD STTR solicitation that opens on February 24, 2009 and closes on March 25, 2009.
This “experiment” is not a DoD project, but perhaps better described as a “simple” idea that Rick Shindell invested some sweat equity in, to provide interested parties a chance to find each other for partnering opportunities in the DoD’s current STTR solicitation.
Most of us have had some negative consequences due to the economy and/or the investment community. Many universities and colleges have incurred major losses to their endowment funds, and that includes their S&T sector. Entities that previously thought STTR was too small to bother with are now interested in becoming involved.
Mr. Shindell spoke with many small and medium sized universities stating difficulty finding interested and qualified small businesses for partnering in STTR. The reverse is also true, having heard from small businesses that they also have a difficult time finding an interested University or FFRDC (including DOE National Laboratories) in an STTR project.
In SBIR Gateway’s experiment, universities, FFRDCs and other qualifying non-profit research organizations can go to the STTR project site at http://www.zyn.com/sbir/sttr_partnering.htm review the DoD’s STTR topics (and full descriptions), comprised of 37 from the Navy and 30 from the Army. They can check the topic(s) of interest to their organization and fill out the contact information. The site is open and functional now, and is waiting for you.
Small businesses in search of a research partner will be able to query topics of interest and see what research organizations may be interested in partnering on selected topics. The query function will opened the week of February 9, 2009.
Times have changed rapidly, and those once not interested are now looking for partnering opportunities. Remember that in STTR, the small business must perform a minimum of 40% of the work, with the partner at a minimum of 30%. IP rights are negotiable and the DoD has a model agreement that can be used as a guide. You’ll find it at http://www.dodsbir.net/solicitation/pdf/AllocationofRights.pdf
As with all SBIR Gateway projects, this service is free and is offered in the hope that it will stimulate interest in the STTR program, promote strong partnerships, create and/or preserve jobs, and be of benefit to the sponsoring agency and their mission.
As with all SBIR Gateway projects, this service is free and is offered in the hope that it will stimulate interest in the STTR program, promote strong partnerships, create and/or preserve jobs, and be of benefit to the sponsoring agency and their mission.
Feel free to send any comments on this to Rick Shindell – rick@zyn.com. Rick will try to answer as many questions as possible in a timely manner.
