The United States of America and our allies confront growing, continuous national and international security challenges. To stay ahead of these threats, we need an energized and aggressive culture of innovation throughout our technical and research institutions at all levels. The Army Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs (STTR) provide access to the creative minds in today’s small businesses and labs.

Federal funding through the SBIR and STTR Programs provide the opportunity for small businesses to research and develop technologies needed for our Soldiers. The long term goal for these projects is to identify, develop and demonstrate highly innovative technologies, with strong commercialization potential to satisfy Department of Defense (DOD) and private industry needs.

Since the inception of these programs in 1982, SBIR and STTR have become the nation’s largest source of funding for small business technology advancement. SBIR and STTR-developed technologies have allowed us to better equip and protect our Soldiers so that they can continue to dominate the virtual and physical battlespace.

The increasingly complicated and dangerous world demands the best technology possible for our Soldiers and our nation. The technologies showcased in this brochure show a small sampling of the outstanding collaborative efforts of our dynamic small businesses and their Army partners. Read these success stories and appreciate the benefits of small business innovation to our Soldiers and our nation.

On behalf of the Army Leadership and our honorable and brave Soldiers, I thank the members of the SBIR and STTR communities along with their supporters for their dedication and contributions to our vital mission.

THE SBIR AND STTR PROGRAMS

Congress established the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs to provide opportunities to participate in government sponsored research and development (R&D).

The goals of the SBIR and STTR Programs are to:

1. Stimulate technological innovation
2. Use small business to meet federal R&D needs
3. Foster and encourage participation in technological innovation by socially and economically disadvantaged small business (SDBs), and/or 51 percent owned and controlled by women
4. Increase private sector commercialization of innovations derived from federal R&D; thereby increasing competition, productivity and economic growth

While STTR has the same objectives as SBIR regarding the involvement of small businesses in federal R&D and the commercialization of their innovative technologies, the STTR Program requires participation by universities, federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) and other non-profit research institutions. read more