TEDCO invites small businesses to apply for Maryland SBIR/STTR Proposal Lab
FLC partner TEDCO (Maryland Technology Development Corporation), OST Global Solutions, and the Small Business Development Center (Team TEDCO) have teamed together to select up to 25 companies to join OST’s next Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Proposal Lab. Maryland companies working with federal labs are encouraged to apply; the deadline is December 15, 2021.
For a third year, Team TEDCO will run a Proposal Lab tailored to assist Maryland small businesses to develop and submit a proposal to the National Science Foundation (NSF) for a Phase I award up to $256,000. The Proposal Lab runs from January 12, 2022 through June 2022. The cost to participate is $600; Team TEDCO is able to provide this significant discount to companies since the SBIR/STTR Proposal Lab is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
The proposal lab is suitable for Maryland for-profit businesses with fewer than 500 employees that are developing a cutting-edge novel technology solution in the US for an identified, viable market. The application process will be competitive, and will focus in particular on women-owned, socioeconomically disadvantaged, and rural small businesses. Applicants who qualify will receive an invitation to a virtual interview.
The SBIR/STTR Proposal Lab combines guidance from SBIR tutorials, best-in-industry proposal training, business development and technical mentorship, expert proposal reviews, and hands-on guidance throughout the program. The Proposal Lab will conduct a series of workshops and expert reviews virtually from the Training Center at OST Global Solutions’ offices in Rockville, Maryland (some in-person events may resume depending on coronavirus restrictions). Participants will receive support between sessions via a series of online portals. The SBIR/STTR Proposal Lab will culminate in the cohort’s proposal submissions projected in June 2022. Subsequent advisory services will also be available for awardees and those who want feedback on how to improve their next proposal submission.
TEDCO has developed a 15 minute video to help explain the Proposal Lab to potential applicants, which can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2-4vERmXe8 More information can be found on TEDCO’s Federal Programs website: https://www.tedcomd.com/funding/tech-transfer/federal-tech-transfer/sbir....
In addition, Kimberly Mozingo, TEDCO Director of Federal Programs, will be holding open Office Hours every Wednesday morning at 8:30 a.m. through December 15 to answer questions about the proposal lab. Register for a link to attend here: https://calendly.com/kim-mozingo-tedco/sbir-sttr-proposal-lab-office-hours