SBIR National Institute for Science & Technology (NIST)

By Andy Alexander

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The National Institute for Science and Technology (NIST) is trying something new for its SBIR awards for FY2008.  It is asking small businesses to scan NIST patents and technologies and suggest what would be appropriate for NIST to include in its next SBIR solicitation. The deadline for suggestions is August 31, 2007, and it expects to issue its solicitation in November 2007 and receive proposals in January 2008.

Small businesses should identify technologies and patents with commercial viability, but which have technological gaps that impede the patent’s transition to the marketplace. NIST intends to incorporate technologies of special interest to industry in its formal solicitation for proposals for its SBIR 2008 research and development contracts.

Information on NIST patents and technology can be found by searching Tech Beat archives at www.nist.gov/public_affairs/techbeat/archive.htm and at www.nist.gov/patents.  To search all NIST patents in the latter web site, check the box “Restrict to Licensable Technologies” in #1 and leave all search methods blank then simply click the “search” button to view all pending and issued patents. 

Small companies that identify NIST-held patents, or other NIST technologies that are not patent protected, and wish to explore opportunities to conduct research to further the technology to transition to the commercial market should call Clara Asmail, NIST SBIR Program Manager, (301) 975-2339 or email her at: asmail@nist.gov.   

In the SBIR competition NIST will offer awardees a non-exclusive research license and the option to a non-exclusive commercialization license.  The company or companies selected for the SBIR award, with access to NIST technology and personnel knowledgeable about the NIST patent, will be expected to add research to the NIST innovation and develop a commercial product based on the NIST patent.

The NIST SBIR program typically includes “Proof of Concept” contracts of as much as $75,000 (over six months) and if successful can evolve into “Research and Development Prototype Development” contracts (as much as $300,000 over two years).