Summary

Makes targeted changes to the federal SBIR and STTR small business research programs to increase emphasis on commercialization. It shortens peer review timeframes, requires commercialization expertise in reviews, creates a Technology Commercialization Official at each participating agency, temporarily allows limited phase flexibility with agency-specific caps, expands allowable technical and business assistance (including I‑Corps participation and patent help), and requires new SBA commercialization reporting and metrics.

Key Points

• Shortens SBIR/STTR peer review decision timeframe from one year to 180 days and requires commercialization expertise in reviews.
• Permits temporary phase flexibility for SBIR/STTR during FY2025–FY2027 with a 10% agency cap, NIH up to 30%, and DoD exempt from the cap.
• Requires each participating agency to designate a Technology Commercialization Official to coordinate commercialization efforts and report to SBA.
• Allows award funds to be used for selected technical/business assistance and staff hiring/training, with Phase I caps of $6,500 and Phase II caps of $50,000 per project.
• Requires agencies with I‑Corps components to offer participation to awardees and permit use of funds to cover technical help for I‑Corps courses.
• Directs SBA to publish an annual commercialization impact assessment with specific commercialization metrics for Phase II-level firms.
• Creates an SBA–USPTO interagency agreement to provide prioritized patent examination and coordinated outreach to award recipients.
• Adds new reporting, review, and oversight duties for agencies and SBA but does not itself appropriate new permanent funds.

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