Learn: SBIR Conferences

Posted: 24th October 2011 by suemac in conferences, NIH, Partner Plug, SBIR
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Last week I attended the NIH SBIR Regional Workshop in Farmington, CT hosted by CTInnovations.  If you’re interested in the SBIR program, or are currently involved in SBIR proposals or projects, SBIR conferences are great resources.  There are generally two national SBIR conferences that cover the program as a whole, and the next National SBIR/STTR Conference will be held November 6-9 in New Orleans, LA.  Regional SBIR conferences take place all over the country, and some agencies hold their own SBIR national conference, such as NIH back in June 2011.

There are several reasons why it’s valuble to attend an SBIR conference:

  1. Basic Information – Many of the sessions will provide you with general information about the SBIR program, how to determine if your company and technology ideas qualify, and how you can apply.
  2. Agency Personnel – Many SBIR agency personnel attend the meetings.  At the regional NIH conference I just attended, Dr. Michael Portnoy, head of NIH SBIR was a speaker and was conducting one-on-one meetings.
  3. Non-Technical Expertise – While many engineers who develop SBIR proposal concepts are experts in their technical field, they may not be experts in accounting, grant management, or commercialization.  Many conferences have sessions or tracks dedicated to these areas, and the conferences are a great place to network and meet experts who can assist you.
  4. Potential Teaming Partners – There are a lot of technical personnel that attend SBIR conferences, and there may be someone who exactly complements your SBIR team.  SBIR conferences are a great opportunity to find consultants and subject matter experts to fill in gaps in your own expertise.

As a proposal consultant, I attend these conferences to improve my own education and to network with potential clients and partners.  I’ve generated relationships with accountants such as Jameson and Company, CPA, who are experts in federal grant and contract accounting.  I can refer these experts to my own clients so that they make the most of their SBIR programs.

I’ll be sharing more about this specific conference, but I wanted to stress up front how valuable these conferences are for anyone involved in the SBIR program, and I’d highly recommend attending the conferences most relevant to your interests.