Meridian Technology Center is partnering with the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology and the Unmanned Aerial Systems Cluster Initiative to offer a special Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) workshop on March 9.

The SBIR program, coordinated by the U.S. Small Business Administration, encourages small businesses to engage in federal research that has the potential for commercialization, while the STTR program focuses on the commercialization of high-tech research and innovation through a joint venture of small business and nonprofit research institutions.

The SBIR and STTR programs are federal initiatives that provide over two billion in grants and contracts each year to small and startup companies for development of new or enhanced products and services based on advanced technologies. About 33 percent of the SBIR Phase I awards made each year go to firms with no prior SBIR experience.

Justin Hazzard, Director of the Meridian Technology Center for Business Development, said the workshop is geared to provide an in-depth perspective of the federal grant program and application process that innovative and technology-based small businesses can leverage to fund research and development of new products. Attendees will also learn how to increase the odds of receiving an award and avoid the common pitfalls in the application process.

“Funding for early-stage capital is critical for small business,” Hazzard said. “The SBIR and STTR grants provide a pathway for new technologies to access the market which raises the tide for economic development in this state and creates new, high paying jobs.”

Attendees will learn the basics of SBIR/STTR and then receive instruction on a simple and logical four-step process for preparing a competitive Phase I SBIR/STTR proposal. Since these federal programs have changed over recent years, this is a great training opportunity even for veterans of the program. Complete the day with one-on-one meeting opportunities with federal agency program managers from the USDA and Office of Naval Research. A panel of experts who have written, won and even lost SBIR/STTR funding will discuss what they did right and what to avoid when developing an SBIR or STTR proposal.

Registration is $20 which includes lunch and a networking reception. University students receive a $10 discount rate. Space is limited. Visit meridiantech.edu/sbir or call 405-377-2220 to reserve your seat.

The Center for Business Development is dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs through networking, education, consulting and business incubation services. Assistance is available in various areas such as marketing, product planning, international business and writing business plans.

For more information visit www.meridiantech.edu/entrepreneurs or contact the Center for Business Development by phone at (405) 377-2220 or toll-free at (888) 607-2509.