The site is developed and managed by Innovation Development Institute All about TwoCents

Part of the genius of those who crafted the SBIR enabling legislation was to make the program a multi-year commitment and to tie funding (now 2.5%) to the annual Congressional (external) R&D commitment to each participating agency. That approach has served well to reduce the extent of political manoevering to maintain integrity of the program. Twenty-five years of efective SBIR functioning is one of the results. However, one probably unintended consequence of this approach has been to impede the emergence of any real level of political sensitivity within the SBIR Community. Collectively the SBIR Community are relatively apolitical. These are talented scientists and engineers rarely called upon to be active in the political space and often completely unprepared to function in that space. The fact of SBIR having been created at all and functioning as effectively as it does, is credit primarily to the ongoing efforts of a few individuals - almost entirely volunteer - the support of some interested larger players along the way and, more recently, the active leadership of the as-yet small membership of SBTC. In a very real sense, there is no sustained, SBIR lobbying effort. So long as SBIR was a small-scale effort, this lack of a sustained SBIR voice, was not too much of a problem. As the scope and scale of SBIR has increased and importance and value of program participation has become more widely known, some with a substantial and powerful Washington presence have entered the arena - not always with the best interests of the majority awardees to the forefront of their efforts. Similarly, others with a vested interest in how the program have been working for them, are actively engaged in setting up the context for this reauthorization. As one of that very small group still around from the original political effort in 1982, and with extensive involvement in reauthorization in 1986 and in 1992, it would be my considered judgment that EITHER the SBIR Community - more broadly defined - be provided the resources to take hold of the current reauthorization effort and set for themselves the primary agenda from which the effort will proceed OR that agenda will be largely set for them. Should that happen - as it has so often previously - primary focus will be on reacting and responding to matters raised by others, some (but not all) being well intentioned If this analysis makes sense to you, can we count on your support to put the future of SBIR in the hands of those most affected? Select Payment Method Published list of contributors Default condition: contributions will be acknowledged by source (but not amount) in any materials related to project - the pamphlets, online and in print, media coverage etc If you would prefer to remain anonymous - that there be no public listing - contact us at email below support@inknowvation.com Credit card contribution Check being sent in the amount indicated below: Can we talk about this? 2cents@inknowvation.com Select Amount of Contribution: $100.00 $250.00 $500.00 $1000.00 $1500.00 $2000.00 $2500.00 $5000.00 Other Enter Other Amount: *Note: The Innovation Development Institute have opted to use the services of PayPal for processing credit cards. Be aware that you will leave this website to complete this transaction. However, you will have an option to return to this site at the end of the payment process. These contributions are being used to support the development and distribution of a comprehensive series of informational pamphlets (10-15 pages each). Called the SBIR Achievement series, these pieces are explicitly designed to be put out there for general use in telling the SBIR story to the Congress, to the Media and within the Community itself with a program-wide approach that is currently not available from anywhere else to empower the grass-roots awardee base that, if properly marshalled and supported, in my judgment is our most powerful - largely unused - asset and to anchor and open up the discussion of what may be the most important SBIR reauthorization now underway To continue offering the Two-cents series around the country and here on line and to work with the various other organizations and individuals committed to achieving a sustained SBIR-STTR political presence.