Small business owners, the majority from the southwestern United States, learned how to secure a portion of the more than $1.6 billion available in Federal funds at a national conference in Albuquerque last week. The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Conference, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, provided programmatic and networking activities for small business owners with Federal Government and industry representatives in attendance.

With the current war, potential terrorist threats, and the struggling American economy, the Federal Government often seeks the advice of its best resources: American small business innovators and entrepreneurs. Each year, the government awards billions of dollars to small businesses with big ideas aimed at helping the government.

"As one of the sponsors of the national SBIR conference, we were extremely pleased with the turnout and enthusiasm of small businesses. This is an example of what Federal, State, and regional partnership can achieve to stimulate innovation among the small business communities," said Kesh Narayanan, PhD, National Science Foundation. "The small businesses community is ready and willing to help our Nation meet our technology needs and move our economy forward."

Conference topics included working with academia and industry, and focused on opportunities in homeland security, electronics, biotechnology, information technology, aerospace, and photonics/optics. Experts also discussed resources, strategies, mentoring, government audit/accounting requirements, and financing.

The conference provided time for the attendees to meet and discuss their business and technology resources with SBIR Program Managers from the 10 Federal agencies involved in the program.

"Participants enjoyed the networking opportunities with attendees, experts, and speakers designed to help them form partnerships to move their businesses ahead," said Barbara J. Stoller, Director, SBIR/STTR Outreach Programs, Technology Ventures Corporation. "In addition, attendees had an opportunity to learn how to partner with universities and businesses and be able to match their firms' technology and innovations with Federal agencies' needs."

The next SBIR/STTR conference sponsored by the National Science Foundation will be held October 27-30, 2003, in Cleveland, OH. For more information, log onto www.SBIRworld.com.

This National SBIR Conference is managed by DelaBarre & Associates, Inc., under contract to the National Science Foundation in cooperation with DOD, SBA, and all SBIR Federal Agencies and Departments.