FOSTER (FOcused SBIR/STTR Teaching, Equity and Results)

FOSTER Program Overview

UNHInnovation is leading a U.S. Small Business Administration initiative called FOSTER (FOcused SBIR/STTR Teaching, Equity and Results) to increase proposals for SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) and STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) grants in the state of New Hampshire. SBIR and STTR grants represent a valuable source of non-dilutive funding for New Hampshire (NH) small technology businesses with less than 500 employees. FOSTER also includes an important mandate to support underserved communities such as women- and minority-owned businesses, rural as well as socially-economically disadvantaged companies.

SBIR and STTR grants represent an approximate $4 billion program annually and are issued by most U.S. government agencies such as the Department of Defense (DOD), the National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Institutes of Health (NIH), to name three. Grants are issued in phases, used to support research and development and can total more than $1 million each.

FOSTER offers small NH businesses a variety of services including grant identification, training, advice and proposal support. For select companies, a competitive microgrant program is available to offer direct grant proposal assistance. All services are free.

The SBIR/STTR program represents a great way for companies to receive needed capital to develop and build their products. To learn more, please contact the FOSTER team at FOSTER.UNHI@unh.edu

Read the Official Announcement

Upcoming Events
All events are being held virtually. Events are open to all and free to attend, but registration is required.

Winter 2023 Events

SBIR/STTR - The ABCs: An Introduction

February 14 | 11:00 am - 12:00 pm (EST) | Virtual

Find out how the government’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs can provide a source of R&D funding between the initial development of your innovative idea and proof that it has potential in the marketplace. The two programs make over $4 billion in high-risk, non-dilutive capital available to innovative small companies annually!

Join our expert in the virtual session to learn what it takes to participate and be competitive in the programs. This training is designed to provide enough information for attendees to determine if they would like to seriously pursue proposal development and provides the tools to help begin the process. We'll review:

Eligibility requirements
Participating agencies
The differences between SBIR and STTR
How SBIR/STTR works with other funding
Common misconceptions and more!

Contracting vs. Granting: Selecting the Right Agency

February 21 | 11:00 am - 12:00 pm (EST) | Virtual

This session will cover the 11 SBIR/STTR participating agencies, their respective missions, the technologies each agency typically funds, and determining the best agency fit for you. This will include where to find the topics of interest, what has been funded previously, and how to contact the agencies. You’ll learn:

Where to find the topics of interest
What has been funded previously
How to do your "homework"
How to contact the agency program managers

Essentials of SBIR/STTR Commercialization Planning

February 28 | 11:00 am - 12:00 pm (EST) | Virtual

Commercialization and transition plans are often a key differentiator in the SBIR/STTR programs, so it is important to know what the agencies are looking for and how to go about developing a good commercial plan. This session will review the basic commercialization plan requirements and guide you through where to start, what to include, and how to present the commercial opportunity. We’ll review: