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So the latest word on reauthorization of the SBIR/STTR Programs is that the House of Representatives has finally decided to talk to the Senate and try to reach a compromise. Apparently the fear of re-election is beginning to outweigh the desire to milk as many contributions as possible from the venture capital and bio biotech lobbyist. So, hopefully, we soon will have renewed SBIR/STTR Programs for the next 8 years or so.

So with reauthorization on the horizon, now is a great time to polish your SBIR/STTR proposal preparation skills. With that in mind, please consider joining us for one of our upcoming training events listed below.

Before we get into the training schedule, let us first remind you of the Federal agencies that have Phase 1 proposal due dates in the next several months. Those agencies with an asterisk (*) next to their name will be accepting both SBIR and STTR proposals on the dates shown.

Agency Solicitation Proposals Website
Available Due

National Institutes of Health*, CDC, FDA Now Aug 5, 2010 http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/sbir.htm

Dept of Agriculture Now Sep 2, 2010 http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/sbir/sbir.html

NASA* Jul 19, 2010 Sep 2, 2010 http://sbir.nasa.gov/

Dept of Defense, FY10.3 SBIR Jul 20, 2010 Sep 15, 2010 http://www.acq.osd.mil/osbp/sbir

Dept of Defense, FY10.B STTR Jul 20, 2010 Sep 15, 2010 http://www.acq.osd.mil/osbp/sbir

National Science Foundation RAPID* Now Sep 30, 2010 http://www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/sbir/2010_ann_rapid_oil_response.pdf

Now, let's talk about those upcoming training events:

1. SBIR/STTR PHASE 1 PROPOSAL PREPARATION WORKSHOP, Atlanta, GEORGIA, July 21, 2010. This, folks, is our most popular workshop. That is because it is chocked-full of information for newcomers to SBIR/STTR and veterans alike. A strong overview of the SBIR/STTR programs is where we start, and then we take you through a simple but comprehensive four-step process for developing a credible and competitive Phase 1 proposal. As a group, we review an actual SBIR proposal and critique it using the tools you learned during the day. For more information on the workshop or to register, contact gcain@morehouse.edu.

2. SBIR/STTR Phase 1 Proposal Preparation & SBIR/STTR COMMERCIALIZATION WORKSHOPS, ALBUQUERQUE & SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO, AUGUST 24-25, 2010. Day 1 will be a repeat of the Atlanta workshop, in which we cover the basics of SBIR/STTR, then lead you through a simple but effective four step process for developing a competitive Phase 1 proposal. This workshop will be held in Albuquerque, while Day 2 will be up in Santa Fe. Day 2 will be our newest workshop in which we cover the basics of SBIR/STTR innovation commercialization, and lead you through 10 tasks in preparing a commercialization plan. Day 2 ends with a panel of New Mexico firms that collectively have generated $10 of millions in revenue from commercializing their SBIR/STTR technologies. For more information or to register for either or both days, contact clow@lanl.gov.

3. ALTERNATIVE/GREEN/CLEAN ENERGY PHASE 1 PROPOSAL PREPARATION WORKSHOP, DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, SEPTEMBER 13, 2010. This is our most popular workshop, in which we cover the basics of the SBIR/STTR program (including the most recent updates), and a comprehensive four-step process in developing a competitive Phase 1 proposal. The workshop will emphasize alternative/green/clean energy technologies and innovations, and will focus on Department of Energy (DOE) and National Science Foundation (NSF) as agencies particularly receptive to such proposals in their SBIR/STTR programs. For more information or to register, check out http://www.sbtdc.org/events/sbir/proposalprep/index.htm. This workshop will be followed by the SJF Summit on the New Green Economy at the same location on September 14-15, http://www.greeneconomynow.org/sjf-2010-summit-on-the-new-green-economy.

4. SBIR/STTR Phase 2 Proposal Preparation Workshop, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, SEPTEMBER 23, 2010. So you have a Phase 1 SBIR/STTR award and are working diligently on proving feasibility. What's next? Phase 2, that's what. This is the critical next step where you take the results of the Phase 1 project and invest another 24 months and $500,000 to $1 million of government funds to move the technology towards commercial and "useful" applications. Phase 2 is very different than Phase 1 in many respects, and we cover them all in this workshop. We start with the basics of Phase 2, then talk about the many differences among SBIR/STTR agencies in how the operate their Phase 2 programs. We then walk you through a thorough process for developing your Phase 2 proposal, and finish with some words about the all-important commercialization portion of a Phase 2 proposal and project. For more information or to register, contact mcardon@utah.gov.

5. SBIR/STTR Proposal Preparation Workshops, three communities across Tennessee, October 19-21, 2010. Details are being worked out, but suffice it to say that we will be bringing our SBIR/STTR workshops to three different communities in this v-e-r-y wide southern state. For more information as the event develops, contact kim.arms@tennessee.edu.

6. SBIR/STTR Phase 1 Proposal Preparation Workshop & MORE, PORTLAND, OREGON , NOVEMBER 3-4, 2010. So Day 1 of this event is set--it will be our famous Phase 1 workshop where we cover everything from the basics of SBIR/STTR through a comprehensive four-step process for developing a competitive Phase 1 proposal to any of the participating agencies. Day 2 is still being ironed out, but could be either a Phase 2 workshop (like the one described above for Salt Lake City) or our exciting (?) SBIR/STTR Cost Proposal and Government Accounting workshop. For the latest information on Day 2, as well as to register for Day 1, contact brice.barrett@pndc.us.

OTHER UPCOMING SBIR/STTR WORKSHOPS & EVENTS:

SBIR/STTR Phase 2 workshop, Orlando, Florida, Early Fall 2010 (tentative)

National SBIR/STTR Conference, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, November 7-10, 2010

SBIR/STTR Training Event, Newark/North Brunswick, New Jersey area, November 16-17, 2010 (tentative)

Remember that if you attend one of our full day workshops (except those held as part of a national or regional conference), you are eligible for a free critique of your SBIR or STTR proposal. The idea is to give you the training you need to be able to write a very good draft, and then provide the feedback to allow you to refine the draft into an even more competitive proposal. We've reviewed hundreds of SBIR/STTR proposals, and have always found some things that could be improved upon to increase the proposer's chances of success

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions. Please note our new email address is gail-jim@g-jgreenwood.com, although the old one will continue to work for at least a few more months. Or consider checking out our website at www.g-jgreenwood.com, where we list our training events and have copies of our SBIR/STTR proposal preparation tips that are published monthly by the SBIR Alerting Service.

ATTENTION POTENTIAL WORKSHOP SPONSORS: We have received many requests for SBIR/STTR workshops from prospective attendees. If you would like to sponsor a workshop, please let us know. Thanks...

Until next time, we wish you the best of luck in your business endeavors, and hope to see you at one of our upcoming training events!

Business Incubator Training

THE NBIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE, Orland, Florida, Spring 2010. SORRY WE MISSED YOU! sEE YOU NEXT YEAR!!

GCGI continues its record of being a presenter at every annual NBIA conference since 1989. We will be offering sessions this year, but stay tuned on the selected titles! To register for or to see specifics about the '10 conference as they become available, check the NBIA website at http://www.nbia.org/.