SBIR_2016_Year_in_Review-FINAL-WEB-with_links-PACleared

SMALL BUSINESS
OUTREACH EVENTS
The Air Force SBIR/STTR Program Office participated in
a series of events sponsored by the SBA called the SBIR
Road Tour (www.sbirroadtour.com). The events took
place in 13 states across the Midwest, West Central and
Southeast regions of the United States and focused on
underserved areas where SBIR/STTR participation has
been low.
There were four to five stops in each region, at state
universities or small business centers, where attendees
from technology-based firms received an overview of
the SBIR/STTR mission and were given the opportunity
to meet one-on-one with agents from 10 to 12
different government SBIR agencies. These businesses
demonstrated a broad range of technological and
research expertise in areas such as medical applications,
sensors, information technology, energy, human systems,
as well as many other types of high-tech development
areas.
The Road Tours serve as a dynamic vehicle to educate
technology-based firms about the opportunities the
SBIR/STTR program can bring and connects them with
the appropriate government agencies that will help
many of them advance their technologies, grow their
businesses and help achieve warfighter success.
The participating Air Force SBIR/STTR program
managers, technical advisors and outreach specialists
covered nearly 3,000 miles on the 2016 SBIR Road
Tour. Many of the state universities and small business
centers expressed gratitude for the visits and invited the
agencies back for future Road Tour events.
FY 2016 SBIR
ROAD TOUR STOPS
The Air Force team conducted 164 one-on-one interviews during the 2016 SBIR Road Tour. As a result of the interviews,
agencies are able to determine a “best fit” for the technologies presented.
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