Technical and Commercial Importance of the Technology

Increasingly, the agencies are emphasizing the potential commercial value of SBIR/STTR technology. Simply proposing to do research for the sake of research is not enough.  You must lay out a clear path—a vision—for the technology to develop into a product with value for the agency and/or the general public.  This further emphasizes the opportunity of commercialization and is why PBC developed TVR™ (Technology Value Realization.) 
TVR team Kick-off meeting – This meeting should take place immediately upon funding of the award.  The purpose of this team meeting is to lay the groundwork to immediately and continuously move the technology toward commercialization.  Each of the following TVR elements should be addressed. 

Technology – Necessary research needs to take place to establish technical feasibility.

Market – Preliminary market(s) feasibility analysis to determine: a) if a market exists, b) possible market size and growth, c) possible competition, and 4) preliminary market needs.

Program determination – An initial SBIR/STTR award provides early seed money to (among other things) establish technical feasibility of an idea (or technology).  The anticipated product from this technology, in many cases, is not the complete solution to a market problem or has a spectrum of applications or products not originally anticipated.  The development of a base technology to solve one problem may, with minor modification solve other problems as well.  The more viable products that can be developed from a given base technology the more value there will be in that technology.  Identifying these various applications provides for greater SBIR/STTR funding opportunities.  By Developing a “program” focus early on (vs. just a project focus) will allow the funding profile to be filled on a timely basis. 

IP – Identify, disclose (to the Government) and determine an ownership path for all proprietary technology anticipated to be developed in the project.

Business infrastructure – Determine, on a preliminary basis, what infrastructure will be needed to create the TVRTM path.  The infrastructure is different if the technology is anticipated to be licensed which is substantially different if the technology is anticipated to be the basis for a new company spin-off.

Resources – At the initial kick-off meeting a strategy should be developed and implementation commenced to bring in the necessary additional funding to maintain the TVRTM momentum.  A resource acquisition plan should be clearly defined and specific steps put in place to access necessary funding and key personnel to advance the technology to commercialization.   

For more information contact Laurie at 303-427-1312 X206 or email info@pbcinc.com