An Assessment of the Small Business Innovation Research Program

In response to a Congressional mandate, the National Research Council conducted a review of the SBIR program at the five federal agencies with SBIR programs with budgets in excess of $100 million (DOD, NIH, NASA, DOE, and NSF). The project was designed to answer questions of program operation and effectiveness, including the quality of the research projects being conducted under the SBIR program, the commercialization of the research, and the program's contribution to accomplishing agency missions. This report describes the proposed methodology for the project, identifying how the following tasks will be carried out: 1) collecting and analyzing agency databases and studies; 2) surveying firms and agencies; 3) conducting case studies organized around a common template; and 4) reviewing and analyzing survey and case study results and program accomplishments. Given the heterogeneity of goals and procedures across the five agencies involved, a broad spectrum of evaluative approaches is recommended. Table of Contents Front Matter EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. Introduction 2. Overview of the Study Process 3. Clarifying Study Objectives 4. Developing Operational Definitions and Concepts 5. Potential Metrics for Addressing Study Objectives 6. Existing Data Sources 7. Methodology Development: Primary Research Annex A SBIR Legislation Annex B Sample Proposal Annex C Memorandum of Understanding Annex D Additional Research Areas of Committee Interest Annex E Bibliography Annex F Research Matrix Annex G Issues Related to Sampling Annex H Committee and Research Team Bios Annex I Tasks to Further Develop and Implement the Methodology Annex J Template for Individual Agency Reports 1. DRAFT PHASE I SURVEY 2. DRAFT PHASE II SURVEY 3. DRAFT PROGRAM MANAGER SURVEY 4. CASE STUDY TEMPLATE