The Small Business Innovation Research Program Challenges and Opportunities (1999) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
Panel VI: Observations and Policy Issues: Agency Perspectives
Panel VI: Observations and Policy Issues: Agency Perspectives
Pages 103-110
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 103... ...
de Blanc introduced herself as one of three people who manage the SBIR program at the Department of Energy (DoE) which at about $75 million annually is the fourth largest in the government.
|
From page 104... ...
de Blanc, parallels what she saw in the DoE research community. The researchers were willing to recognize SBIR's past history of substantial and very positive economic and social results "that's our 'jam yesterday."' They were also willing to recognize that there would be future fruits of commercialization in the form of spinoffs "jam tomorrow." But, they asked, "where is the contribution to our research program today where's our 'jam today'?
|
From page 105... ...
de Blanc emphasized what she sees as the importance to SBIR of "matchmakers," without whom the program will be unable to "get all of [its] little mom and pop groups to marry off their progeny." DoE, realizing that one size does not fit all, this year has provided two very different matchmakers to address the needs of projects that have gone through Phase I and Phase II and are now looking into Phase III.
|
From page 106... ...
Eskesen's comments about the desirability of program officers' interacting with awarders. He said, however, that the decline in levels of both personnel and funding in the federal government makes it hard to see how SBIR would be able to support activities comparable to those that venture capitalists or investment bankers take in the process of due diligence to increase the chance of successful commercialization.
|
From page 107... ...
Narayanan began by describing the program' s external advisory board and naming three conference attendees who serve on it: Terry Bibbens and Dan Hill of the Small Business Administration and Ann Eskesen of the Innovative Development Institute. This body looks at the NSF program in a very critical manner in the positive as well as the negative senseand program officials not only pay attention to its advice but implement its recommendations.
|
From page 108... ...
Making the SBIR program subject to the Government Performance and Results Act offers another opportunity for building inclusiveness among the academic, NSF, and small business communities. Finally, as Rita Colwell, nominated to succeed Neal Lane as director of NSF, has had extensive experience with SBIR, he foresees significant gains for the agency's program.
|
From page 109... ...
Williams observed that many who evaluate SBIR proposals for the government agencies are far more qualified to judge technologies than business plans. Of the companies he has reviewed, "many are very strong technically but have not thought out how they are going to do their marketing plans." He suggested that pointing firms toward economic development groups in their areas might help them acquire better tools for crafting marketing plans.
|
From page 110... ...
de Blanc noted that the DoE's travel budget is included in its personnel budget, which has shrunk with the extensive reductions in force of the past two years. "We have to prioritize travel funds with exquisite discretion," she said.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.