LANSING – Each of our companies received and effectively used multi-millions in government-sponsored R&D grants to fund the research, development and most importantly, commercialization of breakthrough technology innovations that have led to our business success in Michigan. Mark Clevey, a nationally recognized expert in these grants, was an instrumental part of this effort.
Our interest in jointly writing this series of articles is to encourage Michigan small business entrepreneurs to give greater consideration to government-sponsored R&D grant programs (e.g., Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) and the NIST Technology Innovation Program (previously the Advanced Technology Program) as an effective way to foster and accelerate their growth in Michigan.
We know from experience that these programs can provide multi-millions in grant funding to help entrepreneurs develop and commercialize breakthrough technology innovations in our state. These R&D grant programs provided important funding to our companies that paid for new product development as well as consulting and collaborations with leading university scientists and laboratories. They also leveraged commercialization-related networks, potential partners and investors, resources, information and opportunities. These grants allowed us to hire exceptionally talented people and purchase valuable materials. These grants effectively gave us the equivalent of a stamp-of-good-housekeeping in the global innovation economy and positioned us as market leaders. Lastly, an invaluable cornucopia of resources came along with these grants as a side benefit.
One of the most effective vehicles for effective participation in these federal R&D grant programs is their national conferences, meetings and events �?? all of which are hosted by and held in individual States. Cutting-edge entrepreneurs attend them looking for funding to accelerate the growth of their businesses. These entrepreneurs, in turn, serve as magnets for a wealth of resources: Program Managers come and discuss their funding opportunities; commercial companies and investors come looking for strategic alliances; highly qualified business support providers come to showcase their capabilities; finally, economic development specialists come to learn about how to better support cutting-edge small business entrepreneurship.
Michigan has been an active player in the SBIR Conference scene in the past and we strongly believe that we should host one of the National SBIR Conferences in the near future. Each of our companies got its start from past SBIR conferences and related events held in our state. Indeed, the first SBIR Conference in the nation was held in Michigan! In the 1980�??s and 90�??s, Michigan hosted several national SBIR Conferences along with a number of award-winning state-based SBIR and NIST ATP meetings. Finally, as a result of Marks work, Michigan was the first state in the nation to host a National SBIR Commercialization Conference (�??Winners Conference�?�). In awarding the �??Tibbets Award�?� for this program, Roland Tibbetts, National Science Foundation SBIR Program Manager called the Michigan �??Winners Conference�?� a �??model for the entire nation�?� and �??one of the most important events in the entire history of the SBIR program.�?� Several important commercialization opportunities occurred as result of these meetings that greatly contributed to the success of our companies.
Michigan set the bar for SBIR/STTR Conferences in the past and it is high time for us to pull-out-the-stops and host a National SBIR Conference in Michigan again now. Such a conference will be a magnet for the best cutting-edge entrepreneurs all across the country. It will also attract well-healed potential strategic alliance partners and investors looking to team with Michigan small business entrepreneurs that take a business-like approach to cutting-edge business. It will be a platform for our universities and colleges to showcase their best practices in support of cutting-edge entrepreneurship. It will showcase our State and the clear message that we are open for cutting-edge business! It will also signal to our talented young people that Michigan is a place where innovation and entrepreneurship happen. Finally, it will be the catalyst for the award of multi-millions in R&D grants to Michigan cutting-edge entrepreneurs for new Made-In-Michigan breakthrough technologies and products.
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