SBIR and STTR – How are the Programs Managed Today?

Opening Statement By Chairman David Wu

I want to welcome everyone to this afternoon’s hearing on the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. This is the second hearing on the SBIR program the Subcommittee has held as we prepare for re-authorizing the SBIR as well as STTR.

In our first hearing we heard from non-governmental experts on the challenges to the program, their thoughts on how it might be improved and their views on the venture capital issue. Today we will focus on the program from the perspective of the largest agencies’ SBIR and STTR program managers. Much has changed since the SBIR legislation became law 25 years ago. The size of that program has grown to $1.9 billion in FY05, the cost of doing research has increased dramatically, and the management of the program is much more time-consuming and complicated. So who better to learn about the operational challenges of SBIR and STTR than the program managers themselves?

Many of our witnesses today have years of experience with the SBIR program. They have seen it grow from a very small program to the largest government program which supports research and development at small companies. What I want to learn today is their thoughts on how to make program operation more efficient and to maximize the benefits to the public for their investment.

As we reauthorize the program I want to ensure that we set it on the path for success for the next 25 years.

Witnesses

Panel

1 - Mr. Michael Caccuitto
SBIR/STTR Program Administrator Office of Small Business Programs Department of Defense Office of Small Business Programs Department of Defense
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2 - Ms. Jo Anne Goodnight
SBIR/STTR Program Coordinator Office of Extramural Research, National Institutes of Health Department of Health and Human Services Office of Extramural Research
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3 - Mr. Larry James
SBIR/STTR Program Manager Department of Energy Department of Energy
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4 - Mr. Douglas Comstock
Director Innovative Partnerships Program Office National Aeronautics and Space Administration Innovative Partnerships Program Office National Aeronautics and Sp
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5 - Dr. Kesh S. Narayanan
Director, Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships Directorate for Engineering National Science Foundation Directorate for Engineering National Scienc
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