HARRISBURG, PA – The Innovation Partnership (IPart) secured a $95,000 Federal State and Technology Partnership (FAST) grant from the US Small Business Administration. IPart is Pennsylvania’s premiere Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) and federal funding assistance Program. Over $25B in federal funding is available through 11 agencies from the SBIR/ STTR programs which are a highly competitive and encourage domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) that has the potential for commercialization. Through these competitive awards-based programs, SBIR/STTR enables small businesses to explore their technological potential and provides the incentive to profit from its commercialization. Companies supported by the SBIR/STTR programs often generate some of the most important breakthroughs each year in the U.S. For example, about 25 percent of R&D Magazine’s Top 100 Innovations come from SBIR-funded small businesses.
IPart, administered by the Ben Franklin Technology Partners (BFTP), and established in 2003, is a unique state-wide consortium involving the following economic development, higher education, and business assistance organizations located throughout the Commonwealth: Ben Franklin Technology Partners, University City Science Center, Life Sciences Greenhouse of Central PA, Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse, Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers, Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania State University School of Medicine, BioStrategy Partners, the Innovation Transfer Network, Ben Franklin Venture Investment Forum, Drexel University, and Temple University.
The IPart program originated and was funded as an initiative of the Commonwealth by the PA Department of Community and Economic Development (PA DCED). Since that time the program has evolved with its assistance offerings and supporting partner organizations. Through the financial support of its members, IPart has secured over $95,000 in commitments for this fiscal year from its partners throughout the state.
This new funding allowed IPart to compete for and secure a $95,000 Federal State and Technology Partnership (FAST) grant from the US Small Business Administration. IPart will continue to deliver its robust services for Pennsylvania-based SBIR/STTR clients. Equally important, this funding assures there will be no changes to the services offered to IPart clients, under the direction of IPart Director, Kelly Wylam. Together with the current partner commitments, IPart can assure Pennsylvania’s small technology companies that its programs will continue to assist them in generating winning, fundable federal SBIR & STTR proposals.
The Innovation Partnership offers several programs designed to assist emerging, technology-based companies apply for Small Business Innovation Research Grants (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer Grants (STTR) from federal agencies. Throughout the year, the partnership also sponsors seminars and workshops on federal grant application guidelines and techniques – see innovationpartnership.net
The Pre-Proposal Application Program (PPAP) offers the opportunity to have a proposal professionally reviewed, at no cost to the client, before making a submission to a federal agency. Those who successfully participate in the Pre-Proposal Application Program Review may also apply for up to $1,000 from the Travel and Training Reimbursement Program. This funding is available to help the company visit the federal agency, program manager, or laboratory that is sponsoring the grant application. The money can also be used to attend SBIR/STTR conferences and training sessions. The MicroVoucher Program is awarded to applicants who have concepts that exhibit a strong potential for award and covers up to $3,000 of a professional consultant’s fee related to proposal preparation. This program, along with the established MicroGrant Program, assists in enhancing and refining an applicant’s federal proposal submission.
IPart focuses on research and development projects in the fields of biotechnology, energy, advanced manufacturing, and communications technology to name a few. Kelly S. Wylam, IPart Director, commented, “The IPart mission is to enable an entrepreneur to prepare a winning SBIR or STTR grant application, our historic results have been positive. Since the program’s inception 505 technical reviews have been provided to Pennsylvania companies and 92 SBIR/STTR federal awards have been received by companies, totaling over $25M in federal grants.”
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The Innovation Partnership (IPart) is comprised of: Ben Franklin Technology Partners, University City Science Center, Life Sciences Greenhouse of Central PA, Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse, Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers, Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania State University School of Medicine, BioStrategy Partners, the Innovation Transfer Network, Ben Franklin Venture Investment Forum, Drexel University, and Temple University. For more information contact Kelly S. Wylam, (717) 948-4318 or kelly@benfranklin.org
