Mississippi resources for securing
sbir/sttr funding

WELCOME

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs are highly competitive programs that encourage small businesses to engage in Federal Research and Development with the potential for commercialization. Through a competitive awards-based program at 11 Federal agencies, SBIR and STTR’s provide billions in funding to support this early-stage R&D.

MS-FAST

MS-FAST Logo
The MS-FAST Program, led by Innovate Mississippi in conjunction with the USM Office of Innovation Management, aims to elevate the volume of SBIR and STTR proposals from small businesses in Mississippi, ultimately increasing SBIR/STTR awards. The program is supported in part by a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) via its FAST partnership program
 

SBIR and STTR are highly competitive programs that encourage small businesses to explore their technological potential and provide the incentive to profit from commercialization opportunities.

The USM Office of Innovation Management provides technical support to the MS-FAST Program.

To meet the goals of the program MS-FAST provides:

Outreach

Outreach to increase the pipeline of possible applicants and build the capacity of partner organizations and individuals to refer possible SBIR/STTR applicants through train-the-trainer activities. 

Technical Assistance

Technical assistance and services that improve proposal development and team creation; technology commercialization  of SBIR/STTR innovations; and mentoring.

Financial Support

Financial support via the MS-FAST "Phase 0" program to make grants to help cover the cost of developing SBIR/STTR proposals, attending relevant conferences, and other needs. 

By including small businesses in the nation’s R&D, high-tech innovation is stimulated and the nation gains entrepreneurial spirit as it meets its specific research and development needs. The SBIR and STTR programs award nearly $3 billion in contracts and grants annually to small businesses. These two programs target the entrepreneurial sector because that is where most innovation and innovators thrive. However, the risk and expense of conducting serious R&D efforts are often beyond the means of many small businesses. By reserving a specific percentage of federal R&D funds for small business, SBIR and STTR protect the small business and enable it to compete on the same level as larger businesses. This program funds the critical startup and development stages and it encourages the commercialization of the technology, product, or service, which, in turn, stimulates the U.S. economy.

For more information and to request assistance contact Joe Graben, Innovation Ecosystem Manager.

This MS-FAST page is currently undergoing redevelopment with additional information and resources to be added in the near future. Please check back for updates. In the meantime for more information and resources click here.

Click here for a list and information on Mississippi companies – many of whom MS-FAST has helped – who have won SBIR/STTR contracts and grants. 

SBA’s funding is not an endorsement of any products, opinions, or services.
All SBA programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

EVENTS

April 3 | Jackson, Mississippi

8:00 AM – 2:00 PM CST
Hosted by Innovate Mississippi, Jackson State University, and the University of Southern Mississippi

Jackson State University Student Center
1328 John R. Lynch Street
Jackson, MS 39203

SBIR WEEK 2020

2020 SBIR Week was a virtual event connecting entrepreneurs working on advanced technologies to the country’s largest source of early stage funding – the SBIR/STTR programs. Also known as America’s Seed Fund, the SBIR/STTR programs provide over $3.7 billion in funding to small businesses each year in a wide variety of technology areas. 

This virtual event provided registrants with an opportunity to hear directly from the participating federal agency program managers that administer over 5,500 new awards annually and to meet one-on-one with program decision makers.

UNIVERSITY-SPECIFIC WEBINAR

This four-topic webinar is designed to augment the SBIR On-Demand bootcamp with information specifically geared to University personnel who seek funding through SBIR programs.