SBIR/STTR Consulting
Turning innovative ideas into market-worthy products. Heading link
The Office of Technology Management, in conjunction with the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Innovation, is piloting an SBIR/STTR consulting program to support UIC faculty interested in commercializing their technologies. The program will provide up to 20 hours with an experienced SBIR/STTR grant consultant.
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs are designed to help small businesses turn innovative ideas into market-worthy products. UIC faculty members interested in starting a company can use SBIR and STTR grants to bridge the gap between basic science and commercialization. Faculty can receive up to $150,000 for a Phase I award and up to $1,000,000 for a Phase II award to advance their research through these federal funding mechanisms. Contact the OTM to learn which program is right for you.
Meet your SBIR/STTR Consultant: Heading link
Anna Lisa Somera is an experienced medical device consultant, venture capitalist, intellectual property analyst, technology transfer specialist, biomedical researcher, and entrepreneur specializing in early-stage, cutting edge technology businesses. She has been part of the entrepreneurial community in Illinois for 15 years and has helped drive new venture formation and has raised angel and venture funding for several start-up companies spun out of universities while also serving as top management for many of these ventures.
Somera’s advising has helped raise over thirty million dollars in grants to date, mostly for Illinois companies. Her multi-disciplinary academic preparation in business, public health, and cell biology, along with her strong ties to the University of Illinois, has aided in her success in the entrepreneurial community. Additionally, Somera serves as an SBIR/STTR grant consultant at the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and Argonne National Laboratory.
Eligibility Heading link
- Must be a UIC Faculty
- Technology must be disclosed with the Office of Technology Management (OTM)
- Comply with faculty startup options and licensing guidelines through the OTM
For questions about the program please contact the OTM at commercializeotm@otm.uic.edu.
Submit Application
Participating Federal Agencies Heading link
Each year, Federal agencies with extramural research and development (R&D) budgets that exceed $100 million are required to allocate 3.2% of this budget to fund small businesses through the SBIR program. Federal agencies with extramural R&D budgets that exceed $1 billion are required to reserve 0.45% of this extramural R&D budget for the STTR program. Currently, eleven Federal agencies participate in the SBIR program and five of those agencies also participate in the STTR program.
Each agency administers its own individual program within guidelines established by Congress. These agencies designate R&D topics in their solicitations and accept proposals from small businesses. Awards are made on a competitive basis after proposal evaluation.
For more information regarding a specific agency’s award guidelines, please visit their website.