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Technology Transfer

LTTO

The Louisiana Technology Transfer Office (LTTO) facilitates collaborative partnerships between Louisiana businesses, federal labs, and university/research institutions, accomplished by leveraging research capabilities with the commercial development potential of the private sector. This mission is accomplished through the LTTO’s statewide activities and offices located on the campus of LSU Innovation Park and an office at NASA’s John C. Stennis Center in Mississippi. The LTTO is the official entity in Louisiana for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.  

SBIR-STTR

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is a highly competitive program that encourages domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) that has the potential for commercialization. Through a competitive awards-based program, SBIR enables small businesses to explore their technological potential and provides the incentive to profit from its commercialization. By including qualified small businesses in the nation's R&D arena, high-tech innovation is stimulated and the United States gains entrepreneurial spirit as it meets its specific research and development needs.

The Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) is another program that expands funding opportunities in the federal innovation research and development (R&D) arena. Central to the program is expansion of the public/private sector partnership to include the joint venture opportunities for small businesses and nonprofit research institutions. The unique feature of the STTR program is the requirement for the small business to formally collaborate with a research institution in Phase I and Phase II. STTR's most important role is to bridge the gap between performance of basic science and commercialization of resulting innovations.

SBIR and STTR Mission and Program Goals

The mission of the SBIR and STTR programs is to support scientific excellence and technological innovation through the investment of Federal research funds in critical American priorities to build a strong national economy.

SBIR Goals

  • Stimulate technological innovation
  • Meet Federal research and development needs
  • Foster and encourage participation in innovation 
    and entrepreneurship by socially and economically 
    disadvantaged persons
  • Increase private-sector commercialization of 
    innovations derived from Federal research and 
    development funding

STTR Goals

  • Stimulate technological innovation.
  • Foster technology transfer through cooperative 
    R&D between small businesses and research 
    institutions.
  • Increase private sector commercialization of 
    innovations derived from federal R&D.

SBIR's Four-Phase Program

Phase  Description
Phase 0

A Louisiana-based program, administered by the LTTO, that is designed to stimulate interest
and increase participation participation in the federally-funded SBIR and STTR programs
by providing funds to Louisiana’s small businesses to encourage more Louisiana applications
to the programs. Qualified applicants can request funds of up to $2,000 to cover
reasonable costs incurred in developing an SBIR or STTR Phase I or II proposal.

Phase I

Based on proposals solicited by participating agencies. These solicitations contain topics
on which small firms are invited to submit proposals. The proposal describes the results the
firm intends on attaining, the approach the firm will take, and how it will prove the feasibility
of its approach. Phase I awards reach up to $150,000 for approximately a six-month period
and should show:

  • the proposing firm can do high-quality R&D
  • the proposed effort is technically feasible
  • sufficient progress has been made to justify a much larger agency investment in Phase II
Phase II

Based upon the results of Phase I, and the scientific and technical merit of the Phase II
proposal, Phase II awards reach up to $1,000,000 and the principal R&D effort with the
duration not to exceed two years.

Phase III

The company actually pursues a commercial application of the R&D conducted during
Phase I and Phase II. There is no federal funding of Phase III. The funding for Phase III
is typically provided by private sector sources, such as bank financing, venture capital, 
and/or equity funding.

 

For more information on these programs, visit the SBIR-STTR website.

General Inquiries

Inquiry Form

More Information

LTTO SBIR

Contact

Roy Keller
LBTC Contact
rkeller@lsu.edu
225-578-3985

Vic Johnson
Stennis Contact
victor.o.johnson@nasa.gov
228-688-1117

 

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