Minnesota Science &Minnesota Science & Technology AuthoritySBIR/STTR Program Office/ g ff

Becky AistrupBecky Aistrupwww.mnscienceandtechnologyauthority.org

becky.aistrup@state.mn.us(651) 259‐7634( )

MN Science & Technology Authority

O hi G l fOverarching Goal of the STA: Create a robust, strategic, coordinated and long-term approach to driving future job growth through innovation. SBIR/

Short-term Goal: Make targeted public investments for

STTR

investments for initiatives to jumpstart and grow Minnesota’s science & technology industries that will haveindustries that will have a dynamic & positive effect on the state’s economy.

www.mnscienceandtechnologyauthority.org

MN STA ProgramsMN STA Programs• SciTechSperience internship programSciTechSperience internship program

– Helps companies with <100 employees hire STEM college students as internshire STEM college students as interns

– Matches intern cost up to $2500 each– Administered via grant to MN High Tech Association

– Have seen statewide utilization of the program; fully subscribed in 3 months

www.mhta/work/scitechsperience‐internships

MN STA ProgramsMN STA Programs• SBIR Phase II commercialization plansSBIR Phase II commercialization plans

– RFP issued for qualified consultants to write commercialization plans for MNwrite commercialization plans for MN Phase II applicantsSBIR i l t f li t & k– SBIR companies select from list & work directly with consultants; state pays 

lt t di tl t $10Kconsultants directly up to $10K– Includes all work necessary to prepare a proposal‐ready Commercialization Plan

MN Angel Tax CreditMN Angel Tax CreditAvailable to MN businesses engaged Available to MN businesses engaged

in innovation:1 Using proprietary technology to add value to a 1. Using proprietary technology to add value to a

product, process or service in a qualified high-technology field; orgy ;

2. Researching or developing a proprietaryproduct, process, or service in a qualified high- gtechnology field; or

3. Researching, developing, or producing a new proprietary technology for use in the fields of:

agriculture, tourism, forestry, mining, manufacturing or transportationmanufacturing, or transportation

MN Angel Tax CreditMN Angel Tax Credit

• 25% individual income tax credit for qualified investorsq

• Refundable: Get a check from the state if credit exceeds tax liabilitystate if credit exceeds tax liability

• Need not be a MN resident/taxpayer p y• Maximum of $125,000/year

(individual) or $250 000/year (joint)(individual) or $250,000/year (joint)

MN R&D Tax CreditMN R&D Tax Credit• 10% up to the first $2 million in eligible10% up to the first $2 million in eligible expenses & 2.5% for eligible expenses above $2 millionabove $2 million.

• Individuals involved in partnerships, S‐corporations and limited liability companies are allowed to claim thecompanies are allowed to claim the credit against their individual income taxestaxes. 

• R&D credits are refundable

MN SBIR/STTR ServicesMN SBIR/STTR Services• Regular email updates on SBIR/STTRg p• Collaborative events Ph I & Ph II i• Phase I & Phase II expert reviews

• Educational workshops & webinarsp– Live workshops at various statewide venues– Live presentations & webinars by agency staff &Live presentations & webinars by agency staff & program managers

– Webinars by national expertsy p– Workshops tailored to specific audiences (i.e. University staff, topic categories)

“SBIR Update”SBIR Update• ~800 MN email recipients (& growing)• ~800 MN email recipients (& growing)

– SBIR & prospective SBIR companies– Economic development groups– Business pressp– Professional associations & professionals who serve small businesseswho serve small businesses

– Research institutions in MN

• Sent 2 to 4 times/month—as needed• Just added a “Resources” sectionJust added a  Resources  section

Weekly “SBIR Update”Weekly  SBIR Update

Collaborative SBIR eventsCollaborative SBIR events• MN PTAC (Procurement TechnicalMN PTAC (Procurement Technical Assistance Centers)

N ti id f d ll f d d b th– Nationwide federally funded program by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) in each state helping small companies understand thehelping small companies understand the government procurement process

– Joint workshops on registrations, marketing to the p g , ggovernment, finding federal funding opportunities

http // dla mil/SmallB siness/Pages/Proc rementhttp://www.dla.mil/SmallBusiness/Pages/ProcurementTechnicalAssistanceCenters.aspx

Collaborative SBIR eventsCollaborative SBIR events• MN SBDCs (Small Business DevelopmentMN SBDCs (Small Business Development Centers)

P id t i i i ll b i l t t– Provides training in all business areas relevant to small business; spread throughout the state in 6 MN regionsMN regions

– Provide venues and promotion of events to potential SBIR companies or STTR collaborators in p ptheir regions

bdwww.asbdc‐us.org

Collaborative SBIR eventsCollaborative SBIR events• Minnesota Cup & North Central pCleantech Open – Business accelerators and Business Plan 

www.cleantechopen.com

competitions for small high tech companies

• Industry‐focused nonprofitsIndustry focused nonprofits– Defense Alliance, Advanced Power & Energy Cluster, BioBusiness Alliance, Lifescience Alley, Agriculture Utilization Research Institute, Robotics Alley

C k h d bi• Co‐sponsor workshops and webinars to educate about SBIR program

Collaborative SBIR eventsCollaborative SBIR events• MN Universities & Research Institutions

– University of MN, State Colleges & Universities, Mayo Clinic, HealthPartners Foundation, etc.

– Office of Technology Commercialization; Tech Transfer Office; Research‐intensive university departmentsW k h b h d i d h– Workshops about how academics and researchers can become involved in SBIR/STTR; introductions to companies seeking academic collaboratorscompanies seeking academic collaborators

MN SBIR/STTR ServicesMN SBIR/STTR ServicesOne on one assistance:• CCR, grants.gov & other registrations• Agency & topic selectionAgency & topic selection• Agency‐specific guidance & go‐between serviceservice

• Proposal writing tips/recommendations • Pre‐submission proposal reviews• Debriefing review & recommendations• Referral/introduction to other resources & collaboratorsEncouragement & comedic relief!