VERMILLION, S.D. (KELO AM) -- Small businesses who want to conduct and commercialize health-related research will connect with national experts and programs Oct. 28-30 in Sioux Falls, S.D. Close to 500 are expected to attend the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) 15th annual Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Conference held at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.
NIH awards more than $700 million annually to small businesses to perform research and development through its innovation and technology transfer programs. “South Dakota and the surrounding states have growing medical industries,” says Matthew Portnoy, NIH SBIR/STTR Program Coordinator. “We look forward to sharing how NIH can partner with small businesses to bring new products and technologies to market.”
This year’s conference, “How to Be Competitive in a World of Change: Opportunities Through SBIR/STTR Awards,”will offer presentations from experts, one-on-one meetings with staff representing most NIH institutes and centers, a poster session providing examples of NIH-funded projects, and a “Pitch to Investors” panel to educate attendees about investor expectations. The conference is hosted by the University of South Dakota Research Park.
“This is a significant opportunity for South Dakota to highlight its growing medical research capacity and great economic climate to companies from across the United States,” says USD President James W. Abbott. “These are exactly the types of activities we want to foster and support through the USD Research Park.”
SBIR and STTR are programs the provide research funding to small businesses interested in commercializing new technologies. The South Dakota SBIR office helps the state’s small businesses seek SBIR and STTR funding from various federal agencies for technological innovation and to foster university-private sector partnerships. “This is a great opportunity for regional business to gain first-hand knowledge of the SBIR/STTR funding process,” says Gary Archamboult, South Dakota SBIR Director.
For more information about the conference, or to register, visit www.usdresearchpark.com. Early-bird registration discount ends Sept. 30 and a discounted student rate is also available. This project will not be funded in whole or in part with Federal funds from NIH.