Qi2 leverages its scientific and engineering expertise, as well as its technical assets, to develop new technologies and processes that provide improved solutions for the commercial marketplace. We have been quite successful in our endeavors.
Our Small Business Innovative Research / Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) work for U.S. federal agencies has been a significant contributor to Qi2’s ability to become the recognized technology leader in our field, and enables us to sustain a competitive advantage compared to much larger companies. Often the knowledge gained through our SBIR work is the contributing factor in our ability to deliver customer solutions where previously no answer existed.
Since 1995, Qi2 has participated in over thirty such projects, and has experience with Phase I, Phase II and Phase III grants
SBIR / STTR client experience
- Department of Defense
- US Air Force
- US Army
- US Navy
- Department of Energy
- NASA
- National Science Foundation
What are SBIR/STTRs?
About SBIRs
The U.S. Congress established Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants as a vehicle to spur qualified small business, through sponsored work to one of 11 federal agencies, to pursue early phase research that would be otherwise prohibitive to fund if measured by its present value commercial opportunity. At $2 billion per year in authorizations, SBIRs are the largest single source of R&D funding for small business in the US.
Funding
Phase I grants start at <$100,000 and Phase III (which only comes by invitation after Phase I and Phase II work is a success) can be as high as $1.5 million. Project terms range from 6 months to 3 years depending upon sponsoring federal agency and Phase.
Objectives
The end goal is to spur US inventions and create new industry. SBIR/STTR grants are a vehicle designed to excite and fund research that is cutting-edge in the applied field of study, while providing value to a federal agency. It often holds limited interest to the commercial market as early stage research. It may have extremely limited applications or even has constraints on its general release (Defense projects); or, only after once proven and delivered as a workable system, would there be sustainable demand to support complete commercialization, at which time the business would turn to private capital markets.
QI2 SBIR Work Impact
- Aviation and Aerospace
- Automotive
- Consumer Products (Mfg)
- Energy
- Health, Safety and Environmental
- Homeland Security
- Industrial Systems
- Machining
- Marine / Oceanography
- Military and Defense
- Nuclear Safety
- Oil and Gas
- Quality Control
- Test and Measurement
Waterjet Cutting System: An early SBIR development created Waterjet machining, launched FLOW International (NASDAQ:FLOW), and changed forever the way materials are cut. This invention contributes more than $3.5 billion annually in direct economic activity, worldwide.