National Academies Press: OpenBook
Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2009. An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the Department of Defense. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11963.
×

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE SBIR PROGRAM AT THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Committee for Capitalizing on Science, Technology, and Innovation: An Assessment of the Small Business Innovation Research Program

Policy and Global Affairs

Charles W. Wessner, Editor

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS

Washington, D.C.
www.nap.edu

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2009. An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the Department of Defense. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11963.
×

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS

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This study was supported by Contract/Grant No. DASW01-02-C-0039 between the National Academy of Sciences and U.S. Department of Defense, NASW-03003 between the National Academy of Sciences and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, DE-AC02-02ER12259 between the National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. Department of Energy, NSFDMI-0221736 between the National Academy of Sciences and the National Science Foundation, and N01-OD-4-2139 (Task Order #99) between the National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided support for the project.

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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2009. An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the Department of Defense. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11963.
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THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

Advisers to the Nation on Science, Engineering, and Medicine


The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences.


The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Charles M. Vest is president of the National Academy of Engineering.


The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of Medicine.


The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. Charles M Vest are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council.


www.national-academies.org

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Committee for Capitalizing on Science, Technology, and Innovation: An Assessment of the Small Business Innovation Research Program

Chair Jacques S. Gansler (NAE) Roger C. Lipitz Chair in Public Policy and Private Enterprise and Director of the Center for Public Policy and Private Enterprise School of Public Policy

University of Maryland

David B. Audretsch Distinguished Professor and Ameritech Chair of Economic Development Director,

Institute for Development Strategies Indiana University

Gene Banucci Executive Chairman

ATMI, Inc.

Jon Baron Executive Director

Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy

Michael Borrus Founding General Partner

X/Seed Capital

Gail Cassell (IOM) Vice President,

Scientific Affairs and

Distinguished Lilly Research Scholar for Infectious Diseases

Eli Lilly and Company

Elizabeth Downing CEO

3D Technology Laboratories

M. Christina Gabriel Director,

Innovation Economy The Heinz Endowments

Trevor O. Jones (NAE) Founder and Chairman

Electrosonics Medical, Inc.

Charles E. Kolb President

Aerodyne Research, Inc.

Henry Linsert, Jr. CEO

Columbia Biosciences Corporation

W. Clark McFadden Partner

Dewey & LeBoeuf, LLP

Duncan T. Moore (NAE) Kingslake Professor of Optical Engineering

University of Rochester

Kent Murphy President and CEO

Luna Innovations

Linda F. Powers Managing Director

Toucan Capital Corporation

Tyrone Taylor President

Capitol Advisors on Technology, LLC

Charles Trimble (NAE) CEO, retired

Trimble Navigation

Patrick Windham President

Windham Consulting

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2009. An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the Department of Defense. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11963.
×

PROJECT STAFF

Charles W. Wessner Study Director

McAlister T. Clabaugh Program Associate

David E. Dierksheide Program Officer

Sujai J. Shivakumar Senior Program Officer

Adam H. Gertz Program Associate

Jeffrey C. McCullough Program Associate

RESEARCH TEAM

Zoltan Acs

University of Baltimore

Alan Anderson Consultant

Philip A. Auerswald

George Mason University

Robert-Allen Baker

Vital Strategies, LLC

Robert Berger

Robert Berger Consulting, LLC

Grant Black

University of Indiana South Bend

Peter Cahill

BRTRC, Inc.

Dirk Czarnitzki

University of Leuven

Julie Ann Elston

Oregon State University

Irwin Feller

American Association for the Advancement of Science

David H. Finifter

The College of William and Mary

Michael Fogarty

University of Portland

Robin Gaster

North Atlantic Research

Albert N. Link

University of North Carolina

Rosalie Ruegg

TIA Consulting

Donald Siegel

University of California at Riverside

Paula E. Stephan

Georgia State University

Andrew Toole

Rutgers University

Nicholas Vonortas

George Washington University

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2009. An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the Department of Defense. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11963.
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POLICY AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS

Ad hoc Oversight Board for Capitalizing on Science, Technology, and Innovation: An Assessment of the Small Business Innovation Research Program

Robert M. White (NAE), Chair University Professor Emeritus

Electrical and Computer Engineering Carnegie Mellon University

Anita K. Jones (NAE) Lawrence R. Quarles Professor of Engineering and Applied Science

School of Engineering and Applied Science University of Virginia

Mark B. Myers Senior Vice President, retired

Xerox Corporation

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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2009. An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the Department of Defense. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11963.
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 3.3  Phase II Awards,

 

71

   

 3.3.1  Phase II—Average Size of Award,

 

73

   

 3.3.2  Phase II Awards—By Company,

 

75

   

 3.3.3  Phase II Awards—By State,

 

76

   

 3.3.4  Phase II—Awards by Component,

 

81

   

 3.4  Woman- and Minority-owned Firms,

 

81

4

 

OUTCOMES

 

86

   

 4.1  Introduction,

 

86

   

 4.2  Commercialization,

 

87

   

 4.2.1  Background,

 

87

   

 4.2.2  Proposed Commercialization Indicators and Benchmarks,

 

89

   

 4.2.3  Sales and Licensing Revenues from DoD SBIR Awards,

 

90

   

 4.2.4  Additional Investment, Funding, and Other Partnerships,

 

104

   

 4.2.5  Additional SBIR Funding,

 

108

   

 4.2.6  Sales of Equity and Other Corporate-level Activities,

 

109

   

 4.2.7  Initiatives to Improve Commercialization Outcomes,

 

111

   

 4.2.8  Commercialization: Conclusions,

 

115

   

 4.3  Agency Mission,

 

116

   

 4.3.1  Unique Benefits of SBIR at DoD,

 

116

   

 4.3.2  Assessment of SBIR’s Contributions to DoD Missions,

 

118

   

 4.4  Support for Small Business and for Minority- and Woman-owned Businesses,

 

122

   

 4.4.1  Small Business Shares of DoD Funding,

 

122

   

 4.4.2  Project-level Impacts,

 

122

   

 4.4.3  Multiple-award Winners and New Firms in the Program,

 

126

   

 4.4.4  Differing Uses of SBIR by Firms,

 

129

   

 4.4.5  How Firms Use SBIR: Commercialization Case Study Results,

 

138

   

 4.4.6  SBIR and Firm Growth,

 

144

   

 4.5  SBIR and the Expansion of Knowledge,

 

144

   

 4.5.1  Patents,

 

147

   

 4.5.2  Scientific Publications,

 

150

   

 4.5.3  SBIR and the Universities,

 

152

   

 4.5.4  Inventions and Indirect Knowledge,

 

153

   

 4.6  Understanding Outcomes: Empirical Findings,

 

154

5

 

PHASE III CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

 

158

   

 5.1  Characteristics of Phase III,

 

158

   

 5.1.1  Congress,

 

159

   

 5.2  Phase III Outcomes,

 

160

   

 5.3  Phase III Opportunities and Needs,

 

162

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2009. An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the Department of Defense. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11963.
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 5.4  Phase III Concerns,

 

164

   

 5.4.1  The TRL Gap,

 

165

   

 5.4.2  Risk and Risk Management,

 

167

   

 5.4.3  Small Business Perspectives,

 

168

   

 5.4.4  Prime Contractor Perspectives,

 

170

   

 5.4.5  Program Officer Perspectives,

 

172

   

 5.5  Phase III Initiatives,

 

174

   

 5.6  Best Practices,

 

180

   

 5.7  Recommendations,

 

181

   

 5.7.1  Improving Program Officer Use of SBIR,

 

182

   

 5.7.2  Roadmaps and Technology Planning,

 

183

   

 5.7.3  Outreach and Matchmaking,

 

184

   

 5.7.4  Integrating the Primes and SBIR,

 

184

   

 5.7.5  Funding for Program Management,

 

185

   

 5.7.6  Training,

 

185

   

 5.7.7  Reduce Time from Topic Selection to Award,

 

185

   

 5.7.8  A Flexible Approach to Other Possible Agency Initiatives and Strategies,

 

186

6

 

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

 

187

   

 6.1  Introduction,

 

187

   

 6.2  Topic Generation and Procedures,

 

189

   

 6.3  Pre-release,

 

192

   

 6.4  Selection Procedures,

 

193

   

 6.4.1  Phase I Contract Selection,

 

193

   

 6.4.2  Phase II Selection Procedures,

 

195

   

 6.4.3  Composition of Selection Panels,

 

197

   

 6.4.4  Fairness Review,

 

197

   

 6.4.5  Program Manager Role,

 

198

   

 6.4.6  Resubmission Procedures and Outcomes,

 

198

   

 6.5  Post-award Training and Assistance,

 

199

   

 6.6  Outreach: Program Information Sources,

 

199

   

 6.7  Funding Gaps and Funding Initiatives,

 

200

   

 6.7.1  Reducing the Time to Contract,

 

200

   

 6.7.2  SBIR Fast Track,

 

201

   

 6.7.3  Phase II+ Programs,

 

203

   

 6.7.4  DoD Programs for Closing the Phase I-Phase II Gap,

 

204

   

 6.8  DoD SBIR Program Initiatives,

 

206

   

 6.8.1  Enhanced Applicant Information and Communications,

 

206

   

 6.8.2  Electronic Submission,

 

207

   

 6.9  Reporting Requirements,

 

208

   

 6.10  Evaluation and Assessment,

 

208

   

 6.11  Administrative Funding,

 

209

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2009. An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the Department of Defense. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11963.
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APPENDIXES

 

 

   

 A  DoD Data Book

 

213

   

 B  NRC Phase II and Firm Surveys

 

248

   

 C  NRC Phase I Survey

 

272

   

 D  Case Studies

 

280

   

 3e Technologies International,

 

281

   

 Advanced Ceramics Research,

 

285

   

 Applied Signal Technology,

 

290

   

 Bihrle Applied Research,

 

293

   

 Brimrose,

 

296

   

 CFD Research Corporation,

 

301

   

 Ciencia,

 

306

   

 Custom Manufacturing & Engineering,

 

309

   

 Cybernet Systems Corporation,

 

313

   

 Defense Research Technologies,

 

323

   

 FIRST RF Corporation,

 

329

   

 Intelligent Automation, Inc.,

 

333

   

 Isothermal Systems Research,

 

338

   

 JX Crystals, Inc.,

 

341

   

 JENTEK Sensors, Inc.,

 

345

   

 Marine Acoustics, Inc., and VoxTec International, Inc.,

 

351

   

 Multispectral Solutions,

 

355

   

 Next Century Corporation,

 

360

   

 Pearson Knowledge Technologies,

 

365

   

 Physical Sciences, Inc.,

 

370

   

 Procedyne Corporation,

 

377

   

 RLW Inc.,

 

381

   

 Savi Technology,

 

384

   

 Scientific Research Corporation,

 

388

   

 Specialty Devices,

 

395

   

 Starsys Research Corporation,

 

399

   

 Systems & Process Engineering Corporation (SPEC),

 

403

   

 Technology Systems,

 

408

   

 Thermacore International, Inc.,

 

413

   

 ThermoAnalytics, Inc.,

 

417

   

 Trident Systems,

 

421

   

 ViaSat, Inc.,

 

429

   

 E  Bibliography

 

437

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Preface

Today’s knowledge economy is driven in large part by the nation’s capacity to innovate. One of the defining features of the U.S. economy is a high level of entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurs in the United States see opportunities and are willing and able to take on risk to bring new welfare-enhancing, wealth-generating technologies to the market. Yet, while innovation in areas such as genomics, bioinformatics, and nanotechnology present new opportunities, converting these ideas into innovations for the market involves substantial challenges.1 The American capacity for innovation can be strengthened by addressing the challenges faced by entrepreneurs. Public-private partnerships are one means to help entrepreneurs bring new ideas to market.2

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is one of the largest examples of U.S. public-private partnerships. An underlying thesis of the program is that small businesses are a strong source of new ideas and economic growth, but that it will be difficult to find financial support for these ideas in the early stages, thus the desirability for public-private partnerships in the small business, high-technology arena to encourage innovation and to help the government achieve its missions. Founded in 1982, the SBIR program was designed to encourage small business to develop new processes and products and to provide quality research in support of the many missions of the U.S. government. By

1

See Lewis M. Branscomb, Kenneth P. Morse, Michael J. Roberts, Darin Boville, Managing Technical Risk: Understanding Private Sector Decision Making on Early Stage Technology Based Projects, Gaithersburg, MD: National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2000.

2

For a summary analysis of best practice among U.S. public-private partnerships, see National Research Council, Government-Industry Partnerships for the Development of New Technologies: Summary Report, Charles W. Wessner, ed., Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2002.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2009. An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the Department of Defense. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11963.
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including qualified small businesses in the nation’s R&D (research and development) effort, SBIR grants are intended to stimulate innovative new technologies to help agencies meet the specific research and development needs of the nation in many areas, including health, the environment, and national defense.

As the SBIR program approached its twentieth year of operation, the U.S. Congress asked the National Research Council to conduct a “comprehensive study of how the SBIR program has stimulated technological innovation and used small businesses to meet federal research and development needs” and to make recommendations on still further improvements to the program.3 To guide this study, the National Research Council (NRC) drew together an expert Committee that includes eminent economists, small businessmen and women, and venture capitalists, led by Dr. Jacques Gansler of the University of Maryland (formerly Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology.) The membership of this Committee is listed in the front matter of this volume. Given the extent of “green-field research” required for this study, the Committee in turn drew on a distinguished team of researchers to, among other tasks, administer surveys and conduct case studies, and develop and analyze statistical information about the program. The membership of this research team is also listed in the front matter of this volume.

This report is one of a series published by the National Academies in response to the congressional request. The series includes reports on the Small Business Innovation Research Program at the Department of Defense, the National Institutes of Health, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Energy, and the National Science Foundation—the 5 agencies responsible for 96 percent of the program’s operations. It includes, as well, an Overview Report that provides assessment of the program’s operations across the federal government. Other reports in the series include a summary of the 2002 conference that launched the study, and a summary of the 2005 conference on SBIR and the Phase III Challenge of Commercialization that focused on the transition issues face by program participants at the Department of Defense and NASA.4

PROJECT ANTECEDENTS

The current assessment of the SBIR program follows directly from an earlier analysis of public-private partnerships by the National Research Council’s Board on Science, Technology, and Economic Policy (STEP). Under the direction of Gordon Moore, Chairman Emeritus of Intel, the NRC Committee on Government-Industry Partnerships prepared eleven volumes reviewing the driv-

3

See the SBIR Reauthorization Act of 2000 (H.R. 5667, Section 108).

4

National Research Council, SBIR: Program Diversity and Assessment Challenges, Charles W. Wessner, ed., Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2004. National Research Council, SBIR and the Phase III Challenge of Commercialization, Charles W. Wessner, ed., Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2007.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2009. An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the Department of Defense. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11963.
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ers of cooperation among industry, universities, and government; operational assessments of current programs; emerging needs at the intersection of biotechnology and information technology; the current experience of foreign government partnerships and opportunities for international cooperation; and the changing roles of government laboratories, universities, and other research organizations in the national innovation system.5

This analysis of public-private partnerships included two published studies of the SBIR program. Drawing from expert knowledge at a 1998 workshop held at the National Academy of Sciences, the first report, The Small Business Innovation Research Program: Challenges and Opportunities, examined the origins of the program and identified operational challenges critical to the program’s future effectiveness.6 The report also highlighted the relative paucity of research on the SBIR program.

Following this initial report, the Department of Defense (DoD) asked the NRC to assess the Department’s Fast Track Initiative in comparison with the operation of its regular SBIR program. The resulting report, The Small Business Innovation Research Program: An Assessment of the Department of Defense Fast Track Initiative, was the first comprehensive, external assessment of the Department of Defense’s program. The study, which involved substantial case study and survey research, found that the SBIR program was achieving its legislated goals. It also found that DoD’s Fast Track Initiative was achieving its objective of greater commercialization and recommended that the program be continued and expanded where appropriate.7 The report also recommended that the SBIR program overall would benefit from further research and analysis, a recommendation subsequently adopted by the U.S. Congress.

SBIR REAUTHORIZATION AND CONGRESSIONAL REQUEST FOR REVIEW

As a part of the 2000 reauthorization of the SBIR program, Congress called for a review of the SBIR programs of the agencies that account collectively for 96 percent of program funding. As noted, the five agencies meeting this criterion, by size of program, are the Departments of Defense, the National Institutes of

5

For a summary of the topics covered and main lessons learned from this extensive study, see National Research Council, Government-Industry Partnerships for the Development of New Technologies: Summary Report, op. cit.

6

See National Research Council, The Small Business Innovation Research Program: Challenges and Opportunities, Charles W. Wessner, ed., Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1999.

7

See National Research Council, The Small Business Innovation Research Program: An Assessment of the Department of Defense Fast Track Initiative, Charles W. Wessner, ed., Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2000. Given that virtually no published analytical literature existed on SBIR, this Fast Track study pioneered research in this area, developing extensive case studies and newly developed surveys.

Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Research Council. 2009. An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the Department of Defense. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11963.
×

Health, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Energy, and the National Science Foundation.

HR 5667 directed the NRC to evaluate the quality of SBIR research and evaluate the SBIR program’s value to the agency mission. It called for an assessment of the extent to which SBIR projects achieve some measure of commercialization, as well as an evaluation of the program’s overall economic and noneconomic benefits. It also called for additional analysis as required to support specific recommendations on areas such as measuring outcomes for agency strategy and performance, increasing federal procurement of technologies produced by small business, and overall improvements to the SBIR program.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

On behalf of the National Academies, we express our appreciation and recognition for the insights, experiences, and perspectives made available by the participants of the conferences and meetings, as well as by survey respondents and case study interviewees who participated over the course of this study. We are also very much in debt to officials from the leading departments and agencies. Among the many who provided assistance to this complex study, we are especially in debt to Kesh Narayanan, Joseph Hennessey, and Ritchie Coryell of the National Science Foundation; Michael Caccuitto, Victor Ciardello, and John Williams of the Department of Defense; Robert Berger and later Larry James of the Department of Energy; Carl Ray and Paul Mexcur of NASA; and Jo Anne Goodnight and Kathleen Shino of the National Institutes of Health.

The Committee’s research team deserves major recognition for their role in the preparation of this report. Special thanks are due to Dr. Robin Gaster who stepped in to lead the DoD research team. Without his enormous energy, persistence, and productivity, this report would not have been completed. The DoD report and project as a whole are in debt to Peter Cahill, who made available his unparalleled knowledge of the program and its data. The important contributions made by Dr. Irwin Feller, who provided early, insightful, draft of the DoD study and conducted a large number of case studies are gratefully acknowledged. Paul Fowler also provided a valuable empirical perspective. Dr. Zoltan Acs carried out a number of case studies and contributed his valuable insights on the challenge of early-stage finance for innovative small businesses. Sujai Shivakumar also merits thanks for his careful review, edits, analysis, and written contributions, which were essential for the preparation of this report. Without collective efforts of these individuals, amidst many other competing priorities, it would not have been possible to prepare this report.

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL REVIEW

This report has been reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures ap-

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proved by the National Academies’ Report Review Committee. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the institution in making its published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the process.

We wish to thank the following individuals for their review of this report: Robert Barnhill, Arizona State University; William Bonvillian, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Bronwyn Hall, University of California, Berkeley; and Heidi Jacobus, Cybernet Systems Corporation.

Although the reviewers listed above have provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the conclusions or recommendations, nor did they see the final draft of the report before its release. The review of this report was overseen by Robert Frosch, Harvard University, and Robert White, Carnegie Mellon University. Appointed by the National Academies, they were responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of this report rests entirely with the authoring Committee and the institution.


Jacques S. Gansler

Charles W. Wessner

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The SBIR program allocates 2.5 percent of 11 federal agencies' extramural R&D budgets to fund R&D projects by small businesses, providing approximately $2 billion annually in competitive awards. At the request of Congress, the National Academies conducted a comprehensive study of how the SBIR program has stimulated technological innovation and used small businesses to meet federal research and development needs. Drawing substantially on new data collection, this book examines the SBIR program at the Department of Defense and makes recommendations for improvements. Separate reports will assess the SBIR program at NSF, NIH, DOE, and NASA, respectively, along with a comprehensive report on the entire program.

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