Notice Number: NOT-OD-13-003

Key Dates
Release Date: October 16, 2012

Issued by
National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Purpose

The purpose of this Notice is to announce the availability of a Commercialization Assistance Program (CAP) for NIH SBIR and STTR Phase II awardees. Now in its ninth year, this program is designed to help NIH SBIR and STTR Phase II awardees transition their developed products into the marketplace. Through a contract with Humanitas, Inc. of Silver Spring, MD with a sub-contract to Larta Institute of Los Angeles, CA, the CAP will provide early stage companies with individualized assistance toward accomplishing their commercialization goals.

The 2012-2013 CAP will begin in December 2012 and will conclude at the end of August 2013.  With two distinctive tracks, the program offers customized assistance to meet the specific needs of both early stage and seasoned companies: Commercialization Training Track (CTT), and Accelerated Commercialization Track (ACT).  Each is different in their objectives and outcomes.

The Commercialization Training Track (CTT, for which 60 slots are available) is appropriate for the majority of NIH SBIR/STTR Phase II companies. CTT is aimed at assisting participants with evaluating their commercialization options based on their specific technologies (including the need and prospect for investment, strategic partnerships or licensing) and to develop a solid market-entry plan covering an 18-month period.  It also assists participants in the development of market-appropriate tools to accomplish these objectives.

The Accelerated Commercialization Track (ACT, for which 15 slots are available) applies to a select group of NIH SBIR/STTR Phase II companies who have successfully commercialized (or sold) products and/or services, generated revenue, established partnerships and/or otherwise achieved a level of market development that is sustainable over a definitive period.  However, they may be lacking in a specific, applicable issue (such as a solid regulatory plan, a license-focused IP strategy or a term sheet for investors), whose resolution is key to their continued growth.  This issue is the focus of the assistance provided in this track.

The assistance rendered under CAP is practical, oriented to addressing gaps that exist in your current commercialization status, and will allow a company to fully articulate a compelling case for market channels relevant to your business and to develop a clear understanding of potential customers, partners, investors and competitors.  These goals are achieved from contact with experienced advisors and domain experts and live feedback from current industry executives and others. Company CEO participation is strongly encouraged and expected in this program. 

The Commercialization Assistance Program is appropriate for the majority of NIH SBIR/STTR Phase II companies. Specifically, eligible companies include those with an NIH SBIR/STTR Phase II project (grant, contract, or cooperative agreement) that is or was active in the past five years, including Phase IIB competing renewal awards and those in the second phase of the Fast-Track program. Participants must, however, meet the SBIR/STTR small business eligibility criteria as described in the current SBIR/TTR Parent Funding Opportunity Announcement available from the NIH Small Business Funding Opportunities website http://sbir.nih.gov/.  Those who may have previously participated in the program may participate again providing they have a different qualifying Phase II award; however, companies that are first time applicants to the CAP will be given priority.

CAP participation is free of charge for the selected companies; however, participants are responsible for travel and lodging expenses associated with attending workshops and partnering investment events. NOTE:  NIH will not provide additional funding for this purpose; however, participants with a currently active Phase II SBIR/STTR award may rebudget funds within the total costs awarded to cover allowable travel expenses for CAP events without NIH prior approval unless the rebudgeting action constitutes a change in scope or if the terms of award prohibit the use of funds for this purpose.  

Detailed program information and application instructions are available at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/cap/index.htm . Applications can be submitted starting on October 17th, 2012 and the deadline for submitting an application is November 7, 2012. Seventy-five (75) companies will be selected to participate in this year’s NIH CAP (60 for CTT and 15 for ACT).

Inquiries

NIH

Lenka Fedorkova, Ph.D.
Assistant Program Manager
SBIR/STTR Program Office
Office of Extramural Programs
National Institutes of Health
Ph: (301) 435-0921
Email: sbir@od.nih.gov

Robert Vinson
Assistant Program Manager
SBIR/STTR Program Office
Office of Extramural Programs
National Institutes of Health
Ph: (301) 435-2713
Email: sbir@od.nih.gov

Larta Inc. (Technical Assistance)

Judy Hsieh
Program Manager
Larta Institute
Ph: (213) 538-1444
jhsieh@larta.org