Science and Technology Innovation Act of 2008

Bill Summary and Status

Provisions of H.R. 5789 passed the House as part of H.R. 5819, SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act, on April 23, 2008

Section 1.  Short Title 

Science and Technology Innovation Act of 2008

TITLE I – REAUTHORIZATION OF PROGRAMS

Section 101.  Extension of SBIR and STTR Programs  Extends the termination date of the SBIR and STTR programs to 2010.

TITLE II – FEDERAL INNOVATION INVESTMENTS

Section 201.  SBIR Cap Increase  Increases the amount of research funds devoted to small business concerns by requiring Federal agencies with SBIR programs to expend not less than 3.0 percent of extramural research funds towards SBIR.

Section 202.  STTR Cap Increase  Increases the amount of research funds devoted to small business concerns by requiring Federal agencies with STTR programs to expend not less than 0.6 percent of extramural research funds towards STTR.

Section 203.  Adjustments in SBIR and STTR Award Levels  Increases the award levels for the SBIR and STTR Programs to $300,000 for Phase I and $2,200,000 for Phase II, and limits the awards to no more than the specified maximum amounts.  Increases program flexibility by allowing a small business that has received an award in the SBIR or STTR programs to receive a subsequent phase award in either the SBIR or STTR programs; allowing a small business to submit an SBIR Phase II application without first completing a Phase I award; and allowing a small business to submit an STTR Phase II application without first completing a Phase I award.

Section 204.  Majority Equity Investment in SBIR and STTR Firms  Makes eligible small businesses that are backed by venture capital firms and defines eligibility requirements.

TITLE III – UTILIZATION SUPPORT

Section 301.  Agency Databases to Support Program Evaluation  Requires that the database of Program Awardees required under the current Act include the additional information of ownership structure of award recipient at award and after completion of the award period and requires that the database be updated annually for 5 years.  Requires that each agency database be designed to be accessible to other Federal agencies required to establish SBIR/STTR programs.

Section 302. Agency Databases to Support Technology Utilization  Requires each Federal agency to create and maintain a technology utilization database that is available to the public.

Section 303.  Interagency Policy Committee  Establishes an Interagency SBIR/STTR Policy Committee comprised of representatives from each Federal agency with SBIR/STTR and names the OSTP and NIST Directors as co-chairs.  Requires the Interagency Policy Committee to make policy and report to Congress its review and recommendations regarding Federal agency flexibility, commercialization assistance, and initiatives to address funding gaps.

TITLE IV – OUTREACH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Section 401.  Use of Program Funds for Administrative Costs  Allows Federal agencies to use no more than 3% of its SBIR budget for administrative expenses.

Section 402.  SBIR Discretionary Technical Assistance  Allows Federal agencies to select a vendor to assist award recipients to develop and commercialize new products for a term not to exceed 3 years.  Increases the amount an agency can provide for technical assistance to $5000 for Phase I and $8000 for Phase II.

TITLE V – IMPLEMENTATION

Section 501.  Conforming Amendments to the SBIR and STTR Policy Directives  Requires the Director of the Small Business Administration to promulgate amendments to the SBIR and STTR Policy Directives to conform to the Act within 180 days.

Section 502.  National Research Council SBIR Study  Removes the requirement of the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 2000 that the National Research Council provide an updated report.

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