SBIR/STTR Emerging Business Fund

Matching FUNDS for Federal Phase I SBIR/STTR awards are no longer available.

The funds allocated for the Small Business Innovative Resources (SBIR)/ Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Emerging Business Funds have been exhausted.  Letters of Support issued at the time of proposal submission stated that matching grants were subject to the availability of funds, thus, grants for Federal Phase I SBIR/STTR awards are unfortunately, no longer available.

Future programs are in design and development stages and, pending available funding, updates and program details will be posted here. Applicants winning Federal awards during the Emerging Business Fund Program, for which a Letter of Support may already have been issued, will not automatically receive a matching grant under a new program. New applications and requirements will be implemented.

Please revisit the website for future updates.

Contact

SBIRinfo@michigan.org

SBIR/STTR Websites:

SBIR/STTR Resources in Michigan:

The following information is shown for reference only.  Please see notice above.

Overview

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) is a federal funding program, managed by the Small Business Administration, which provides competitively reviewed financial support to companies. Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) is a small business program that expands funding opportunities in the federal innovation research and development arena. Central to the STTR program is expansion of the public/private sector partnership to include the joint venture opportunities for small business and the nation's premier nonprofit research institutions.  Both programs provide grant funding for exploration of the technical merit or feasibility of an idea or technology (Phase I) and R&D work and commercialization evaluation (Phase II).

In 2004, $1 million was allocated to foster growth in the automotive, life sciences, and homeland security industries by creating the SBIR/STTR Emerging Business Fund to match Phase I grants (Matching Award) from the SBIR/STTR programs to Michigan companies. The dual purpose of this fund is to both increase the numbers and competitiveness of Michigan SBIR/STTR proposals by providing support to Michigan businesses and to increase the success of Michigan companies moving through the SBIR/STTR process.

Qualifying Definitions  

Life Sciences:  Life sciences, for the purposes of the SBIR/STTR Emerging Business Fund Matching Funds Program, includes Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices, Instrumentation, Diagnostics, and Biotechnology Research and Ancillary Services. Life sciences will not include projects that address healthcare delivery, public health, epidemiology, natural resources management, agriculture, or ecology. However, with the aim of improving the quality of human life and the environment, funded activity may employ various biological models and organisms —including microbes, plants, and animals other than humans— using unifying genomic, energetic, and other life science concepts to address fundamental research problems or develop, test, and commercialize useful products and techniques that could enhance research related to human health.

Homeland Security:  Homeland Security, for purposes of the SBIR/STTR Emerging Business Fund Matching Funds Program, involves the production of goods and services that have an application in the area of homeland security (i.e., risk detection and security equipment for public and private locations, intelligence-gathering and information-sharing technology and equipment, emergency communication technology and devices, and detection, diagnostic, and treatment equipment for biological and chemical attacks). This includes the following:

  • Development of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear countermeasures
  • Development of systems for detecting hostile intent
  • Application of biometric technology to identification devices
  • Development of technological advancements that improve the efficiency of emergency responses

SBIR/STTR Emerging Business Fund Matching Funds will not be used for manufacturing of weapons, staffing of security personnel, the purchase of equipment, or development of training seminars or courses for first responders.

Advanced Automotive Technologies:  Advanced Automotive Technologies, for purposes of the SBIR/STTR Emerging Business Fund Matching Funds Program, are engineered products, processes, and technologies with applications in the automotive industry that improve:

  • Safety
  • Product quality and durability
  • Vehicle efficiencies
  • Manufacturing productivity
  • Advanced power train and alternative energy technologies
  • Environmentally conscious solutions

Program Outline and Eligibility

This matching program, administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), awards funds to Michigan Companies by matching Phase I SBIR/STTR awards. A “Michigan Company” is defined as a for-profit business which has all or substantially all of its employees and operations, including operations funded by the Phase I SBIR/STTR award, within the State of Michigan both at the time of the Phase I SBIR/STTR award and during the time period covered by the Phase I SBIR/STTR award. The Matching Award amount will be the lesser of $15,000 or 15% of the SBIR/STTR award. There will be a maximum of $50,000 available per Michigan Company, including affiliates per fiscal year allocated on a first come first serve basis, contingent upon the availability of funds. Eligible applicants include individuals, Michigan Companies, and non-Michigan Companies. Matching Award distribution will be contingent upon individuals and non-Michigan Companies becoming a Michigan Company.

The application for a Matching Award must be submitted to the MEDC prior to the federal government agency due date of the respective SBIR/STTR program The MEDC will provide a letter of support for a Matching Award upon receipt, review and approval of the application form. The application must be submitted to the MEDC in time that a letter of support could be included with the Phase I SBIR/STTR federal grant proposal. The applicant is encouraged to include the letter of support provided by the MEDC within their federal SBIR/STTR proposal or budget description if it is in accordance with the guidelines and history of the specific SBIR/STTR federal agency.  Receipt of the MEDC letter of support/commitment, prior to the SBIR/STTR due date, is required regardless of whether it is submitted with the federal grant proposal.

Please keep in mind when submitting an application for matching funds that 10 business days are required to process letters of support. Applications received with less than the 10 business day turnaround time may not be processed in time.

In order to be eligible for funding, the Phase I SBIR/STTR topic must directly relate to the fields of life sciences, homeland security or automotive. The Phase I federal SBIR/STTR proposal must be due April 1, 2004, or later. A Matching Award from the SBIR/STTR Emerging Business Fund will be provided in the form of a grant upon proof of a Phase I SBIR/STTR award with the federal agency or department. The Matching Award shall be used for any expenditure allowed with the SBIR/STTR program plus the following expenditures not covered by the SBIR/STTR program: purchase of equipment, legal costs (including intellectual property), commercialization costs (marketing, business planning, advertising, sales, etc) or fundraising costs (venture fund or other future grant preparation, etc).

Recipients of Matching Awards will be required to enter into an award agreement with the MEDC agreeing to use the funds only for allowed purposes. Recipients will be required to provide the MEDC with a short report (Click Here for Final Report Form) of the specific results of the work funded, expenditures made with the Matching Award and forecast of the project’s next steps. All Matching Awards must be spent within the State of Michigan, specifically with other Michigan Companies, Michigan based nonprofit corporations or research institutions, Michigan Universities or residents of the State of Michigan.

How the Program Works

  1. Applicant can Click Here to download Microsoft Word application form. 
  2. Applicant fills out the application and saves an electronic copy of this completed application for their personal reference. 
  3. Applicant emails the application to SBIRinfo@michigan.org.  
  4. The MEDC will review applications as they are submitted and respond to the applicant within ten business days.  Please keep in mind when submitting an application for matching funds that 10 business days are required to process letters of support.  Applications received with less than the 10 business day turnaround time may not be processed in time. 
  5. The MEDC will notify the applicant whether the technology and the application meet the eligibility criteria. Eligible applications will receive a letter of support from the MEDC including an explanation of the 15% or $15,000 match. 
  6. A company must apply to the MEDC prior to submitting their Federal Phase I SBIR proposal.  Eligible MEDC applications will receive a letter of support from the MEDC including an explanation of the 15% or $15,000 match. The application to the MEDC must be submitted in time that the MEDC letter of support/commitment could be included with the Phase I SBIR federal grant proposal. The MEDC requires ten business days to process the application approval and letter of support. Applications must be received ten business days prior to the federal proposal due date to ensure eligibility.
  7. The company is encouraged to include the letter of support provided by the MEDC with their federal grant proposal or budget description if it is in accordance with the guidelines and history of the specific SBIR federal agency.  Regardless, the MEDC letter of support/commitment must be received prior to the federal Phase I due date.
  8. The applicant should notify the MEDC (sbirinfo@michigan.org) as soon as possible if they are, or are not, awarded the respective Federal Phase I SBIR award.
  9. Recipients of Matching Awards will be required to enter into an award agreement with the MEDC agreeing to use the funds only for allowed purposes. The Matching Award will be in the form of a grant upon proof in the form of the signed contract agreement with the federal agency or department of a Phase I SBIR/STTR award.
  10. The MEDC will use reasonable efforts to disburse the Matching Award within ten business days of complete execution of the award agreement.
  11. Following the completion of the Phase I SBIR/STTR project, the recipient will be required to submit a brief report detailing specific results of the work funded, a summary of expenditures made with the Matching Award and forecast of the project’s next steps. Click Here  to download Microsoft Word final report form. Applicant emails the final report to SBIRinfo@michigan.org.
  12. A MEDC representative may also want to meet with the applicant following the completion of SBIR/STTR Phase I. The goal of the meeting would be to learn more about the technology and provide business development support, referrals or marketing information wherever applicable. Additional SBIR/STTR Information and Resources below.

Contact

For more information on this program, or to submit your application electronically, please contact SBIRinfo@michigan.org.

SBIR/STTR Websites:

SBIR/STTR Resources in Michigan:

Forms and Documents:

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