The Micro-enterprise Inventors Program of Oregon (MIPO) and the Oregon Small Business Development Center Network (OSBDC) will host the SBIR/STTR 2012 National Conference: Crack the Code an event that welcomes entrepreneurs, businesses, government agencies, innovators, universities, and community partners to Portland, Oregon.
SBIR/STTR are competitive federal government grant programs that fund small businesses to develop innovative, high-risk technologies with the goal of increasing private sector commercialization into the marketplace.
While SBIR has been reauthorized, there are many questions and issues remaining. Are foreign companies going to be allowed into the program? Are affiliates of big business going to be allowed to compete in the SBIR program? Will DOD create incentives to primes that award Phase III contracts? Will DOD set goals for transitions SBIR technology into programs of record and fielded systems? Who will get thrown out of the program and why? Will a company be liable for fraud if is incorrectly applies accounting principles? What will agencies do with 3% of SBIR funds? These discussions followed by a question and answer period