Friday, March 18, 2011

Free Session on Funding Tech Companies

Small businesses and university researchers can get some help in obtaining federal funding to grow their high tech companies and develop new ideas. The first of the free information sessions hosted by the Small Business Development Center at Duquesne University is Tuesday, March 22nd, followed by three daylong programs.

Cynthia Laurash, Consulting Manager at the Small Business Development Center, says the money is made available through the Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer Research program (STTR). "So 11 federal agencies participate in these programs and they are required by law to share part of their R&D funds each year to solicit programs and research requests from small businesses."

Laurash says that both programs are under continuing authorization from Congress through the end of May. She says she believes Congress will work out a deal to keep the programs funded through the next 8-10 years because of their helpfulness to businesses.

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