Coalition Letter on Reauthorization of Small Business Programs

Congressional Leaders:

We, the undersigned organizations, are writing to urge you to pass an extension of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs on an upcoming legislative vehicle that will be enacted soon.

The SBIR/STTR programs are currently set to expire on September 30, 2022. While we support a full reauthorization through regular order, the calendar realities in Congress this year and lack of legislative vehicles available prior to the termination date mean that it is a very real possibility that these programs could expire before a full reauthorization can be passed.

That would be a crushing blow to American innovation and undermine small business job creation during our nation’s economic recovery. The SBIR/STTR programs, established in 1982, have a proven track record. As of 2019, the programs have provided over 179,000 awards, totaling more than $54.3 billion, to U.S. small businesses. A Defense Department assessment showed the SBIR/STTR programs have generated a 22:1 return for every federal dollar spent, and a study by the National Academy of Sciences found a commercialization rate of between 50-60% for SBIR/STTR investments—a win-win for the U.S. economy and taxpayer.

SBIR and STTR are an essential part of America’s innovative high-tech ecosystem, and even the threat of a short-term disruption of these programs—like what the programs underwent back in 2008-2011—could have a severe effect on R&D-focused small businesses. Federal agencies could also see their research and technology development stalled by a disruption in these programs. Both small businesses and the agencies need certainty, stability, and predictability to budget and plan for the future—especially as the nation works to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

With this in mind, we respectfully request that you include an extension of the SBIR/STTR programs, including related pilot authorities, in an upcoming legislative vehicle, such as an upcoming government funding bill. This extension will give Congress the time it needs to develop and pass a comprehensive reauthorization bill for SBIR and STTR, one that includes needed changes and improvements. It will also give both small businesses and federal agencies the certainty that these vital programs will not expire or be disrupted.

Thank you for your consideration.

Cc: U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship; U.S. House Committee on Small Business; U.S. House Committee on Science, Space and Technology

Angel Capital Association

Association of University Research Parks

BBC Entrepreneurial Training and Consulting

Facility Logix

National Defense Industrial Association

NextGen Chamber of Commerce

Innosphere Ventures

Invent Together

Lakeview Consulting, Inc.

National Association for the Self-Employed

National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA)

National Small Business Association

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council

Small Business Majority

Small Business Technology Council

SSTI

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

US Ignite

Waymaker Group

Alabama

University of South Alabama

Arizona

Arizona Bioindustry Association, Inc. (AZBio)

Arizona Commerce Authority

Arizona SBDC

Arizona Small Business Association

Arizona Technology Council

Arkansas

Arkansas Research Alliance

Science Venture Studio

Startup Junkie Consulting, LLC

Startup Junkie Foundation

California

Blended Impact

Oak Crest Institute of Science

Connecticut

CTNext

Innovation to Impact

Delaware

Delaware Innovation Space

Delaware Prosperity Partnership

District of Columbia

Incubate

Florida

Florida High Tech Corridor

University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program

Georgia

Emory University

Enterprise Innovation Institute

Hawaii

Hawaii Technology Development Corporation

Illinois

Illinois Science and Technology Coalition

Iowa

BioConnect Iowa

Kansas

Enterprise Center in Johnson County

K-State Innovation Partners

Kentucky

University of Louisville

Louisiana

Louisiana Tech University

New Orleans BioInnovation Center Inc.

New Orleans Business Alliance

NexusLA

Maryland

BioHealth Innovation

Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO)

Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC)

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Technology Development Corp

New England Innovation Alliance

Michigan

Applied Medical Device Institute

Economic Development Alliance of St. Clair County

Michigan Business Innovation Association

Michigan Economic Development Corporation

TechTown Detroit

WMed Innovation Center/Kalamazoo SmartZone

Minnesota

MNSBIR, Inc.

Mississippi

Innovate Mississippi

Missouri

BioSTL

Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

Missouri State University

Missouri Technology Corporation

University of Missouri

Nebraska

Invest Nebraska

Nevada

Nevada Governor's Office of Economic Development

New Mexico

Arrowhead Center at NMSU

OneTen Capital

New York

Center for Biotechnology, Stony Brook University

Rochester Institute of Technology

Weill Cornell

North Carolina

Contraceptive Accelerator Network

The Launch Place

Ohio

Greater Cleveland Partnership

Innovation Works

JumpStart Inc.

Rev1 Ventures

The Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE)

Oklahoma

Cowboy Technologies, LLC

i2E, Inc.

Oklahoma Center for Advancement of Science & Technology

Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance

University of Oklahoma

Oregon

Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute

VertueLab

Pennsylvania

Ben Franklin Technology Partners

Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development

University City Science Center

University of Pittsburgh

South Carolina

South Carolina Research Authority

South Dakota

South Dakota SBDC

Tennessee

AgLaunch

Epicenter Memphis

Launch Tennessee

The Company Lab

Texas

Texas Foundation for Innovative Communities

Texas State University

Utah

University of Utah

Utah Innovation Center

Vermont

Vermont Department of Economic Development

Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund

Virginia

George Mason University

Valleys Innovation Council

Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation

Virginia Tech

Washington

University of Washington, CoMotion

West Virginia

West Virginia Jobs Investment Trust

West Virginia University

Wisconsin

BioForward Wisconsin

Center for Technology Commercialization

The Water Council

University of Wisconsin-Platteville