Here’s how UD is helping Delaware startups get federal grant funding

Government processes. They’re complicated, tedious and drawn out.
But what if there are millions of dollars on the other side of that process? Better yet, what if there was someone willing to sit down and walk you through it? Someone who has trudged through that muck themselves.
If you’re a Delaware business or research organization, you’re in luck.
On April 20, University of Delaware’s Small Business Development Center will open up its Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) sessions. The sessions encourage small businesses to apply for federal grants and contracts through SBIR and STTR to develop high risk/reward technologies. Plus, they’re free to attend for Delaware businesses and researchers.
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Federal government agencies allocate $2.6 billion every year towards funding research and development on new technologies — as long as the concepts being funded are relevant to each agency’s interest.
Barb Necarsulmer, associate state director at SBDC, said the federal programs are more of a commercialization pathway than anything else.
“This is an opportunity for small technology businesses, particularly those that have something new or innovative that they’re exploring,” she said. “Is it perfect? No. Is it easy? No. But it fits a niche businesses.”
While Necarsulmer said applying for federal grant money isn’t as “sexy” as venture capital or seed fund investment, SBIR/STTR are programs that will get your business the money to actual fund the research and development it needs. It’s just — well, tiresome.
“The process is tedious, it’s a government grant application, it’s going to be reviewed on it’s technical merits,” Necarsulmer said. “It’s a complicated process.”
Hence, the reason for the creation of SBDC’s SBIR/STTR 101 Sessions. At the April 20 event, attendees will have the opportunity to learn what these programs are, how they work, how they can benefit their business or research, where to find more information and, ultimately, why they should consider government funding as a viable option in the first place.
“[Applicants] aren’t alone in this process,” said Daniel Eliot, SBDC’s manager of Technology Business Development. “We help guide them through this process.”