The U.S. Small Business Administration‘s road tour will be coming to Rutgers University in New Brunswick this month.
The SBIR Road Tour connects entrepreneurs advancing technology with early stage funding through the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs.
The New Jersey Stop, which will be hosted at the Rutgers Cook Student Center, is sponsored by the New Jersey Small Business Development Centers, EisnerAmper and McCartner & English. Other sponsors and supporting organizations include BioNJ, Rutgers University, New Jersey Business Incubation Network, New Jersey Economic Development Authority, New Jersey Innovation Institute, New Jersey Technology Council, Princeton University, TechLaunch and Stevens Institute of Technology.
The tour will stop at New Brunswick on September 18, the SBA said.
“The New Jersey Stop on the SBIR Road Tour is just one aspect of the services that the NJSBDC offers small businesses in the Garden State. The unique aspect here is that the focus is on all important science and technology firms,” Brenda Hopper, CEO and state director of the New Jersey Small Business Development Centers, said. “Our specialized services in this important area help businesses reach success.”
Each stop will be hosted by a local organization that supports entrepreneurs in next generation R&D. Managers from federal agencies will also conduct one-on-one meetings, take part in panels, discuss technology and share insights into agency funding.
“Through a competitive awards-based program, SBIR gives small science-technology businesses in New Jersey the opportunity to explore their technological potential and provides the incentive to profit from its commercialization,” Deborah K. Smarth, chief operating officer and associate state director of the New Jersey Small Business Development Centers, said. “Over the years, NJSBDC’s assistance has facilitated millions of dollars in grant awards to New Jersey-based firms and entrepreneurs that bring their technology innovations to the marketplace.”
The program will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and includes networking and lunch. Immediately following lunch, Randy Harmon, senior consultant of SBDC’s Tech-Commercialization Program, will host an introductory seminar and overview the program’s focus.
The morning program will feature sessions on SBIR and STTR programs that present funding opportunities as well as a panel discussion on funding proposal writing tips and how to avoid pitfalls when writing them.
In the afternoon, attendees will hear from a variety of experts and topics, including:
- Anthony Faugno, a CPA at EisnerAmper, “SBIR Cost Proposals”;
- Daniel Kelly, McCarteer & English, “Intellectual Property Protection”;
- Judith Sheft, NJ Innovation Institute at NJIT;
- Vincent Smeraglia, executive director of the Rutgers University Office of Research Commercialization;
- Anthony Williams, Princeton University;
- Alan Wink, EisnerAmper, “Collaborating with New Jersey’s Research Universities”; and
- David Sorin, McCarter & English, “Financing Strategies for Commercialization.”
“I encourage science and technology entrepreneurs to participate in the Road Tour to tap potential funding that is available for this group of entrepreneurs and businesses as this a rare opportunity to learn directly from and engage one-on-one with program decision makers,” Harmon said.
The SBIR/STTR program provides more than $3 billion in funding to small businesses every year, it said.
