Event Designed to Engage Small Businesses Working on High-Tech, High-Impact Ideas

ALBANY, NY–Registration is now open for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Albany stop on the agency’s National Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Road Tour scheduled for Tuesday, September 17, 2019 at the SUNY Polytechnic Institute Zen Building, 257 Fuller Road, Albany, NY 12203.

“This 16-city tour is designed to connect and engage entrepreneurs working on advanced technology to the country’s largest source of early stage funding – the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs,” said SBA Syracuse District Director Bernard J. Paprocki. “These programs focus on next generation research & development (R&D) and are led by the SBA with participating federal agencies that provide grant opportunities to further develop technologies solicited by each participating agency.”

“Every year, we meet entrepreneurs from around the country looking to turn their big idea into another great American innovation story.  We are committed to supporting America’s small businesses owners wherever they are,” said SBA Acting Administrator Chris Pilkerton. “This tour reflects our continued commitment to ensuring that these innovators are aware of SBA’s resources to help them reach that goal.”

Joining the SBA in sponsoring the Albany SBIR Tour are SUNY, SUNY Summer Startup School, and NY Small Business Development Center; sponsoring organizations include innovate 518, U Albany Innovation Center, ip.com, NYSTAR, and NYS Empire State Development.

Agenda highlights include one-on-one meetings with federal program managers, reverse pitches from federal agencies, personalized assistance & resources, engaging panel discussions, and commercialization boot camp. Small business owners who pre-register will be invited to register for one or more 1-on-1 meetings with program managers from the 16 participating federal agencies. Meetings are scheduled 15 minutes apart. They will be scheduled on a first come first served basis upon submission of a required profile.Throughout the day participants will also be invited to take part in targeted panels, discuss technology areas, and share insights into how the agencies make funding decisions.

SBA Regional Administrator Steve Bulger, who oversees all activities for SBA’s Atlantic Region, which encompasses all of New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, noted that Upstate New York is fertile ground for innovation and technology.

“The SBIR Road Tour plays an important role in increasing engagement withentrepreneurial ecosystems across the country and building out greater networks to support the creation of small businesses focusing on high-impact research,” said Bulger. “This is a great opportunity for small businesses involved in technology and innovation to come together to learn about and gain access to America’s Seed Fund, the SBIR/STTR programs.”

“The SBIR/STTR programs tend to fly under the radar, yet they provide over $3 billion in early stage funding to small businesses each year in a wide variety of technology areas such as unmanned systems, advanced materials, health, cybersecurity and defense,” added Bulger.  “The SBIR/STTR programs execute over 5,000 new awards annually, which allow innovators to advance new technologies and have contributed to the creation of thousands of jobs.”

There is a pre-registration fee of $25 for small technology firms, innovators, scientists or researchers who would like to attend the event. To register online for the Albany SBIR Road Tour, visit http://nysbdc.com/SBIR/index.html.

For additional information about the SBIR/STTR programs, visit https://www.sbir.gov/.

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Rachael Stanton
Public Affairs Specialist
Syracuse District Office 
U.S. Small Business Administration 
Office: (315) 471-9393 x 244
rachael.stanton@sba.gov