Summit Session Descriptions

8:15    Welcome

8:25    Welcoming Keynote by Texas Leadership (invited)

8:50    Conference Keynote by Cynthia Gonsalves, former Director, Office of Technology Transition, Office of the Secretary of Defense

SBIR as a National Innovation Driver:  According to recent studies, SBIR-funded firms are now responsible for approximately one-fourth of the nation’s most important innovations over the last decade, as determined by their receipt of prestigious R&D 100 Awards (called the “Oscars of Invention” by the Chicago Tribune). These small companies produce over 20 times the number of patents per R&D dollar as universities, and five times as many patents per R&D dollar as large corporations.  SBIR funding has resulted in the development of a number of successful large companies, and significant contributions to the U.S. economy.

9:15    Start-up & Innovation Financing Options

Bringing innovative new technology to market requires financing, and SBIR/STTR funding is but one option – not always the best option.  This panel provides several perspectives, including from a managing director of a Houston-based seed and startup venture capital firm focusing on technology innovation in the U.S. Midcontinent, a network of Texas “Angel Investors” who risk their own capital in business investments, and a representative of the Texas Emerging Technology Fund, providing state grants to stimulate development and commercialization of new technologies.

Moderator:  Ray Friesenhahn, Senior Technology Manager, TechLink
– Dan Watkins, DFJ Mercury, Houston, Texas
– Jamie Rhodes, Alliance of Texas Angel Networks, Austin, Texas
– Jonathan Taylor, Texas Emerging Technology Fund, Office of the Governor (invited)

10:15 Networking Break

10:40 Agency SBIR Program Overviews and Updates (20 min ea.):

Do you think all agency SBIR or STTR programs are alike?  Can you just write good proposals and “toss ‘em over the wall,” expecting equal chances of getting funded?  Each federal agency operates its SBIR/STTR programs differently, each with its own focus, interests, requirements, and review processes.  There’s no better way to start getting to “know your customer” than to listen to presentations by the agency representatives that will be presenting here. Program Managers (in-person and live via interactive video), featuring:
– DoD
– DOE
– NSF
– NASA

SBIR 101 (Introduction to SBIR/STTR for Newer Entrepreneurs): For those with little or no experience in the SBIR and STTR programs, this session will provide a broad overview of the many opportunities available in these $2.2 billion programs, what you can expect when getting started, and how to start moving forward more successfully in developing competitive proposals that have better chances of getting funded under these competitive programs.

Faculty Entrepreneurship: STTR, IP, Technology Transfer and University Spin-outs

Universities are major sources of new technology innovation, which can lead to major new business opportunities.  If you’re a university researcher thinking about taking a new technology to market, or an entrepreneur interested in licensing a special technology from a university, this panel will present you with key information on the processes involved, the key requirements to consider, and how you can better manage an important and very valuable relationship.

12:00 Networking Lunch

Luncheon Speaker:  Rick Shindell, SBIR Gateway - Updates and Implications of SBIR Reauthorization

1:00    Agency SBIR Program Overviews (continued)

The Department of Defense and NIH are the two largest SBIR/STTR funding agencies, with DoD alone accounting for over $1.2 billion in SBIR/STTR funding.  DoD consists of 12 different Components, including the Services, each operating their own SBIR programs, focusing on their own technology requirements, with some also having STTR programs.  NIH consists of nearly two dozen institutes, each with a different focus, but all under one main program.  Learn more about key differences among these major SBIR/STTR programs.

Moderator:   Ray Friesenhahn, Senior Technology Manager, TechLink
– Program managers (live via interactive video): Army, Air Force, Navy, NIH

Lone Star Success:  Texas SBIR/STTR and ARPA-e Awardees

Agency perspectives are important to learn what they’re looking for, and what opportunities they may offer.  However, nothing strikes home as much as learning from prominent Texas peers about how they generated their successes, and the lessons they learned that could help you in your own approach to business and technology development.

Moderator:
– Oliver Murphy, CEO,, Lynntech, College Station
– Paul McClure, CEO, Xidex Corporation, Austin
– Paul Bundschuh, VP Business Development, Ideal Power Convertors, Austin

University Partners: Research Capabilities Available to SBIR/STTR Companies

One of the single biggest factors in winning SBIR awards is partnering with a university or institute scientist, and such collaboration is a requirement for STTR, where odds of winning are often higher.  With their technical writing experience, scientific credibility, and advanced research facilities, university and institute scientists should be the first strategic partners you seek.  This panel will give an overview of some of the outstanding local research capabilities available to you, and how to go about finding the right individuals, and establishing a formal collaboration.

Private Meetings, Agency Representatives, Prime Contractors, Investors, University Partners

2:00    Panel – Working with Prime Contractors

Prime Contractors provide most major systems to DoD, NASA, and other agencies.  These large corporations recognize the value of innovative technologies being developed by small businesses funded through SBIR, and actively seek such firms for potential collaboration.  Collaborating with a major Prime Contractor, or even just getting a letter of support, can significantly increase your chances of winning an SBIR award, and may lead to future contract opportunities with the Prime.  Find out how you can work with Prime Contractors, learn about their needs and interests, and what they’re looking for in small business suppliers.

ARPA-E’s Energy Programs

The Advanced Research Projects Agency—Energy (ARPA-E) within the Department of Energy (DOE) provides competitive funding for high-risk transformational energy research that can lead to important new energy innovations for the nation.  With an FY 2012 budget of $275 million, ARPA-E is poised to fund a number of new projects.  Learn more about what ARPA-E is about, and what to expect in terms of funding opportunities over the coming year.

Working with Federal Labs: Cooperative R&D & Licensing

Federally-funded laboratories are a major resource of new technology innovation, and technical capabilities that may be available nowhere else in the world.  Partnering with a federal lab can provide you with important insights and connections that you could leverage for new business opportunities.  Find out how you can access the capabilities and technologies from hundreds of federally-funded laboratories, through licensing and Cooperative R&D Agreements (CRADAs), and how the new SBIR/STTR reauthorization allows you to use part of your SBIR/STTR funding to support needed research or testing at these labs.

Speaker or Moderator: Tim Wittig, Principal, Technology Management Advisors, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC)

Private Meetings, Agency Representatives, Prime Contractors, Investors, University Partners

3:00   Networking Break

 3:30    SBIR Commercialization: Beyond Phase II

The goal of the SBIR/STTR program, and your goal as a successful business, is bringing to market the new products or technology these programs helped you develop.  Commercialization is an often difficult and complex process that few entrepreneurs can accomplish on their own.  This panel will provide an overview of some outstanding resources available to you, often at little or no cost, that can help you achieve your important commercialization goals.

Intellectual Property and Patent Protection

Protecting your intellectual property (IP) is a critical part of the innovation process that can give you important competitive business advantages.  Learn the basics of what you need to do to protect your IP, and keep those advantages intact.

Speaker: Tim Wittig, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Washington, DC

Navigating SBIR Accounting Requirements and Budgets

Budgets and accounting for federal grants and contracts are a complex and often intimidating aspect of SBIR that even many experienced business accountants are not adequately prepared for.  Learn from an SBIR accounting expert how you can prepare for the process, with budgets that actually cover your real business costs, and accounting that minimizes your stress when the federal auditors come to call.

Speaker: Shelley Davis, Partner, Sage Accounting, LLC

Private Meetings, Agency Representatives, Prime Contractors, Investors, University Partners

4:30    Closing Remarks

 Networking Reception