Technology Transition Performance of the U.S. Department of Defense Small Business Innovation Research Program
Abstract
Drs. Toshiyuki Sueyoshi and Youngbok Ryu at New Mexico Tech seek to examine the technology transition efficiency of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. As a federal research and development program, the DoD SBIR program makes contracts with small businesses that can provide technical solutions to warfighters. The successful R&D contract outcomes are supposed to be acquired by the DoD and other federal agencies. This process is called a technology transition. Since DoD itself invests approximately 1 billion dollars in the SBIR program, it is important to shed light on the process of the DoD SBIR technology transition and measure the efficiency. Better understanding and data-driven analysis of technology transition can inform policymakers of how to improve the performance. To systematically approach this issue, the study team decomposes the process of technology transition into three sub-processes: R&D, network building, and commercialization. This reflects the study team’s effort on the re-definition of the technology transition process, which is different from the existing single black-box model. Using a unique dataset composed of DoD SBIR awards, patents, and federal procurement contracts of 252 technology-based small businesses, we measure the performance of each sub-process and overall technology transition process. To do that, this study employs data envelopment analysis of each sub-process at a firm (DoD SBIR awardees) and agency (DoD components) levels. After measuring the efficiency scores, subsequent Tobit regression analyses are conducted to explore what factors influence the efficiency scores. Those factors include not only small businesses’ demographics but also their industrial focus, geographical location, and relationships with the DoD and prime contractors. Based on the results of the two analyses, the study team seeks to develop actionable policy recommendations for improving the transition performance of technologies created through the DoD SBIR program.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jun 18, 2020
- Source ID
- HQ00342010009
Entities
People
- Toshiyuki Sueyoshi
Organizations
- New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
- Washington Headquarters Services