Follow the Money!
Total annual budget for SBIR grant funding: >$4.5 Billion across 16 government agencies (www.Grants.gov)
Government agencies funding >$100Million/yr in grants are mandated by Congress to set aside 3% of their Federal appropriation for SBIR funding
- DoD >>> NIH >>> NSF >>> remaining 13 agencies
- Agencies must spend their SBIR funds every year
- Funding levels are typically upper 15th to 20th percentile – Applications are NOT equally meritorious!