NSF SBIR/STTR Programs The Search for Transformational

Technologies

Dr. Rajesh Mehta– Program Director

Faculty Development Needs for Adv Mfg in USA Arlington, VA

January 9, 2014

Directorate for Engineering 2

• Part of NSF that NEVER funds basic research

• You do not need a Ph.D. to apply

• You do not need years of experience in a field to apply

• You are expected to dream BIG, work HARD, and make a

HUGE impact on the marketplace/ society

• NOT just another funding mechanism for academic

research – it requires a VERY different mindset

• You could help your students pursue this career path if it

is the right path for them

• Be an advisor, NOT the majority owner!

Acting Director Dr. Cora Marrett

National Science Foundation

Directorate for

Engineering

~$750 M

Directorate for

Computer and

Information

Science and

Engineering

Directorate for

Geosciences

Directorate for

Education and

Human

Resources

Directorate for

Mathematical

and Physical

Sciences

Directorate for

Social,

Behavioral,

and Economic

Sciences

National Science Board Office of the

Inspector General

Office of International

Science and Engineering

Office of Equal Opportunity

Programs

Office of Integrative

Activities

Office of Budget, Finance,

and Award Management

Office of Information and

Resource Management

Office of the General

Counsel

Office of Legislative and

Public Affairs Directorate for

Biological

Sciences

Office of

Cyberinfrastructure

Office of Polar Programs

~ $7B

Division of Industrial

Innovation and

Partnerships ~$150 M

Commercialization focus

Industrial Innovation and Partnerships(IIP)

Grant Opportunities for

Academic Liaison

with Industry (GOALI)

Donald Senich

Division Director Grace Wang

Industry/University

Cooperative Research

Centers (I/UCRC)

Larry Hornak

Partnerships for Innovation:

Accelerating Innovation

Research (PFI-AIR)

Barbara Kenny

Advanced Materials &

Instrumentation (MI)

Ben Schrag

Assessment, Diversity,

& Program Support

Gracie Narcho

Partnerships for Innovation:

Building Innovation Capacity

(PFI-BIC) Sara Nerlove

SBIR/STTR Program Joe Hennessey

Senior Advisor, OSDBU Donald Senich

Industry/University

Cooperative Research

Centers (I/UCRC)

Shashank Priya

Operations Specialist

Greg Misiorek

Program Analyst

Mary Konjevoda

Science Assistant

Lindsay D’Ambrosio

Einstein Fellow

Steve Griffin

Program Specialist

Alexandria Hale

Program Specialist

Caroline Hayer

Program Specialist

Willis Phan

Contract Staff

Semiconductors (S) & Photonic

(PH) Devices and Materials

Steven Konsek

Advanced Manufacturing &

Nanotechnology (MN)

Rajesh Mehta

Information and Communication

Technologies (IC)

Peter Atherton

Electronic Hardware, Robotics and

Wireless Technologies (EW)

Murali Nair

Chemical and Environmental

Technologies (CT)

Prakash Balan

Biological Technologies (BC)

Ruth Shuman

Smart Health (SH) and Biomedical

(BM) Technologies

Jesus Soriano

Educational Technologies

and Applications (EA)

Glenn Larsen Experts/Special Topics

George Vermont

Special Projects

Juan Figueroa

University

Small Business

Investors

Industry

NSF

En

g. o

vera

ll

NSF

ove

rall

GO

ALI

I /U

CR

C

PFI

ERC

i-C

orp

s

Commercialization: A Rocky Road…

Res

ou

rces

In

vest

ed

Discovery Development Commercialization

Foundations

Innovation Commercialization focused

programs

SBIR | STTR

Valley of death

“Ditch” of death

• About $150M in equity-free grants (FY12)

• Provides early-stage funding to entrepreneurs for

R&D on high-risk technologies with high potential

for economic/societal benefits

• Selects proposals based on both Technical &

Commercial Merit

• Proposal calls - once/6 months

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) http://www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/sbir/ (703) 292-8050

6

7

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) http://www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/sbir/ (703) 292-8050

CA CA

CA: Commercialization Assistance

Demonstrate a steadfast commitment to commercialization of your technology

Could receive in excess of $1M equity-free grant in 2 phases By the NUMBERS

• Median age of companies ~ 3 years • Median no. of employees ~ 4 • Companies having no employees with a PhD degree ~ 25% • Companies receiving Phase II award for the first time: 70%

SBIR Program Outcomes

40% of the companies successful

Successful product/technology launch into the marketplace - 60% if a major company intimately involved

9:1 ROI

Sizeable acquisitions leverage this number significantly.

Company or technology acquired within 12 years (50%).

Academia is a major source of the successful projects.

Estimated that over 50% of the successes have academic roots in a faculty member and/or Ph.D. thesis.

Internal NSF Phase II Commercialization Tracking Study Dr. George Vermont

Directorate for Engineering 10

Current SBIR

Grantee

http://www.levantpower.com/

Directorate for Engineering http://keystonetowersystems.com/

140M tall inland wind

towers

Onsite tapered welding Current SBIR

Grantee

~5 employees

Directorate for Engineering 12

Current SBIR

Grantee

http://www.ceralink.com/

Directorate for Engineering 13

Current SBIR Grantee

http://www.mangomaterials.com/

Directorate for Engineering 14

Current

SBIR

Grantee

http://tag-optics.com/

Richmond, CA ◊ eksobionics.com

◊ Powered exoskeleton - enabling patients with

limited mobility to sit, stand, and walk on their

own.

◊ Helps Stroke or Spinal Cord Injury patients

◊ Deployed in 30 rehabilitation centers worldwide

Robotic Orthotics to Augment Human

Mobility & Capabilities

http://www.eksobionics.com/

Directorate for Engineering 16

Risk-Averse Culture Infects U.S. Workers, Entrepreneurs

Updated June 2, 2013

17

Large Company

A

SB

Large Company

B

Large Company

C

SB

SB

SB

SB

SB

SB

SB

SB

SB

SB

SB

SB SB

Traditional approach……

- Slow

- Innovations on the shelf…?

- Generation of employment?

18

SB

Time for new approaches……

- Grow by other faster means - Bring innovations to the marketplace - Generate employment

SB

SB

19

3D Printing – Changing the way we make things

Challenges for small businesses: -Slow processing technology (making an entry in commercial aerospace industry ~25 years’ effort!) -Hobbyist printers inexpensive but commercial printers are expensive -Limited feed materials - Unclear when small businesses will be able to participate in the marketplace to deliver the promise Coat hangers/smart phone cases/ head phones/ nutritionally enhanced foods……Body parts…… qualified parts for large companies Factory Workers Craft-persons with global connectivity

1

20

Manufacturing for Emerging Markets

• Meet basic customer needs • Affordable • Priced right • May have societal benefits

2

$69 Refrigerator $2K Car $35 tablet

Staggeringly huge markets

21

Current SBIR Grantee

Potential 30% in output

<20 employees http://www.coolectrica.com/

22

$22 Cooking Stove

70% Emissions 65% Fuel 100,000T CO2

Sold 50K [$600K]

http://greenwaygrameen.com/