Dr. George Kovatch
US Department of Transportation (DOT)
Volpe National Transportation Systems Center
55 Broadway, Kendall Square
Cambridge, MA 02142-1093

Voice: (617) 494-2756
Fax: (617) 494-2370
email: kovatch@volpel.dot.gov

Dr. George KovatchÕs contributions to the SBIR Program have cultivated its growth throughout the entire federal government, rather than just within the Department of Transportation. When the SBIR Program was first created, it was viewed by many as a marginal program. With creativity and initiative, Dr. Kovatch worked to change that perception in DOT and to build the SBIR Program to its current state of wide acceptance and respect.

Dr. KovatchÕs efforts have caused the SBIR Program to be considered as a central part of R&D resources, achieving complete acceptance by DOTÕs R&D planning teams. George made it a completely integrated and institutionalized part of DOT, perhaps more so than for other agenciesÕ SBIR Programs. In fact, if the statutory requirement for SBIR participation were ever canceled, it is highly unlikely that DOT would discontinue it. To establish this strong foundation for SBIR in DOT, George first recruited senior technical managers from the R&D elements of each DOT Operating Administration (FAA, FHWA, NHTSA, etc.) to be SBIR managers and advocates within their own mode of transportation. Next, he worked with the Office of the Secretary to highlight how SBIR could support new initiatives within the Department by using SBIR to provide a way to Ōjump startĶ research on priority transportation problems. Next he encouraged at the secretarial level use of the SBIR Program in meeting intermodal and/or cross modal transportation technology needs.

As a result of his efforts in the DOT SBIR program, the DOD Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) invited DOT to be an equal partner in the Technology Reinvestment Project (TRP) aimed at small business high tech firms. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) looks so highly on the DOT SBIR Program now that, although it is exempt from participation in the Program, the FAA has decided to participate on a completely voluntary basis, and has continued to fund innovative SBIR firms that address key national aviation transportation priorities.

Through an extensive program of advocacy and speaking engagements, Dr. Kovatch has represented the DOT positively, and actively at national, regional, state, and local conferences highlighting opportunities in SBIR that will encourage high tech firms to develop their innovative ideas for use in transportation.

Within DOT, Dr. Kovatch has always worked to ensure proper visibility for SBIR within the Secretary of TransportationÕs Offices and among the various Operating Administrations. He has worked diligently with DOTÕs SBIR Program Managers to ensure that every topic addresses a priority with high-risk potential for payoff in the transportation and small business communities. He facilitated joint-funding of projects so that small businesses could have more than one opportunity for development of their technologies. Further, during Phase II, he has secured funding from potential customers, so that business and customers partner in the development of a prototype product.