SPACE ACQUISITIONS: Challenges in Commercializing Technologies Developed under the Small Business Innovation Research Program

Abstract

To be competitive in the global economy, the United States relies heavily on innovation through research and development (R&D). The Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982 established the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program to stimulate technological innovation among small businesses. SBIR offers one avenue for introducing technological innovation in the Department of Defense (DOD) space sector. GAO was asked to assess (1) the extent to which DOD is utilizing the SBIR program to develop and transition space-related technologies; and (2) whether small businesses face challenges to participating in the space industrial base. To do this, GAO analyzed program documentation and DOD data on the SBIR program and interviewed key officials.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 2010
Accession Number
ADA532743

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Best Practices
  • Business Administration
  • Commerce
  • Congress
  • Contracts
  • Department Of Defense
  • Intellectual Property
  • Law
  • National Security
  • Procurement
  • Small Business
  • Small Satellites
  • Space Systems
  • United States
  • United States Government

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Defense Technology Research and Development.
  • Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) EDI Research and Innovation.

Technology Areas

  • Space