FEDERAL RESEARCH: Small Business Innovation Research Program Shows Success But Can Be Strengthened

Abstract

We are pleased to discuss the results of our review of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. The Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982, which authorized the SBIR Program, emphasized the benefits of technological innovation and the ability of small businesses to transform research and development (R and D) results into new products. As part of its oversight of the SBIR Program, which is scheduled to expire in 1993, the Congress directed GAO to evaluate the aggregate commercial trends (primarily sales of products) in the third, or final, phase of the program. This phase of the program, which follows the developmental work of Phases I and II, is intended to pursue commercial or government applications of the SBIR technology. My discussion today represents a summary of our work to date. We will make the final results available in a report to the Congress within a month. In addition, because the quality of SBIR research is a major factor in reviewing the program, we are including a brief discussion of our findings from the report that we released in January 1989.1

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 26, 1992
Accession Number
AD1174825

Entities

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  • Keith O. Fultz

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  • United States Government Accountability Office

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