The workshops aim to help more women participate in SBIR and STTR programs.
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs – funded through federal agencies – offer awards to eligible small businesses to conduct research and development on projects that have the potential for commercialization.
Since the inception of these programs, tens of billions of dollars have been awarded to over 100,000 small businesses. Unfortunately, women-owned organizations make up only a small fraction of companies that receive SBIR and STTR awards.
In an effort to increase participation and success in SBIR and STTR programs, UCI Beall Applied Innovation recently created W.SparkSBIR, a women-focused program that puts on workshops and events to provide women – and men – the support they need.
The workshop series walks attendees through all the steps necessary to write and submit SBIR and STTR award applications, with each workshop tailored to a grant-related topic relevant to entrepreneurs in any stage of their project.
The workshops are led by Molly Schmid, Ph.D., SBIR consultant for UCI Beall Applied Innovation, who brings years of experience in bioinformatics, pharmaceuticals and health technologies, and as a senior consultant with the Small Business Development Center @ UCI Beall Applied Innovation. Schmid’s prior experience as a grant reviewer and chair of SBIR/STTR review panels for the National Institutes of Health make her an incredible asset for anyone looking to secure grant funding.
“Writing a first SBIR proposal can be a daunting task,” said Schmid. “These workshops provide the first-time applicant with knowledge of key items that are involved in assembling a competitive SBIR proposal.”
In addition to Schmid, guest lecturers present on their experiences as applicants and reviewers to help attendees avoid mistakes and increase their chances of receiving awards.
Learn more about the W.SparkSBIR program and register for an upcoming workshop series.