Using America’s Seed Fund to Expand the University Innovation Ecosystem

13 July 2021 (12:00 - 1:15PM EDT)

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) will share how America’s Seed Fund - the Small Business Innovation Research/ Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs - enables the transition of university-based research. Beyond the $4 billion each year of funding to startups, complementary programs enable academics and startups to translate research discoveries into innovative technologies. 

SBA will share how to tap into initiatives like the Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership program and Growth Accelerator Fund Competition, as well as opportunities to inspire students to become entrepreneurs.  

NIH will discuss resources available to academic and small business innovators to translate academic discoveries into commercial products that improve patient health, including the NIH’s Proof-of-Concept Network (POCN), a nationwide public-private network of 15 centers and hubs spanning more than 100 universities and colleges and offering feasibility funding and entrepreneurship training and mentorship.