Washington, DC - As part of last week's $99 million announcement by the U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) research and development projects, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) will manage seven new projects across seven states, totaling $7 million in funding. In addition to the seven new projects for innovations by small businesses, EERE also manages 33 projects across 19 states, totaling $4.95 million, which was announced as part of SBIR/STTR Phase I awards in February.
Small businesses that demonstrated technical feasibility for innovations during the first phase of their research then competed to continue to Phase II for prototype or processes development research funding. The average Phase II award is $1 million for two years, and the average Phase I award was $150,000 for less than one year.
The EERE technology offices managing projects include the Advanced Manufacturing Office, the Bioenergy Technologies Office, the Building Technologies Office, the Fuel Cell Technologies Office, and the Geothermal Technologies Office. SBIR-STTR projects are required to work in one of the following topics:
- Membranes and materials for energy efficiency
- Subsurface technology and engineering research and development
- Performance and manufacturing advancements for LEDs, OLEDs and for solid-state lighting
- Engineered systems for innovative wet and gaseous waste valorization
- Subsurface permeability manipulation and fluid control.
Small businesses play a major role in spurring innovation and creating jobs in the U.S. economy. The SBIR and STTR programs were created by Congress to leverage small businesses to advance innovation in partnership with federal agencies.
