Federal grant-winning tips coming to Milwaukee

Madison, Wis. - Small businesses interested in tapping into $2 billion in federal funding for early-stage research will be able to learn what it takes to win these competitive grants at a conference this November in Milwaukee.

Firms in the entrepreneurial sector are encouraged to attend the 2006 Fall National SBIR/STTR Conference from Nov. 6 to 9 at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center.

The conference will provide information and workshops on federal programs that assist small business research and development. Federal Small Business Innovation Research grants are distributed by 11 federal departments and agencies to fund high-risk development projects. Meanwhile, Small Business Technology Transfer grants are designed to expand public-private ventures.

Together, these projects explore the technical merit or feasibility of an idea or technology, and evaluate commercialization potential.

The National Science Foundation, in conjunction with other participating federal agencies involved in the SBIR/STTR program, will sponsor the event for the last time. Starting with the 2007 Conference, organization of the conferences will be handled by states around the country, with participation from SBIR/STTR Agency program managers. Companies can register online for the November 2006 conference or contact Cheryl Gain with the Wisconsin Department of Commerce at 608-261-7721.

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