NATIONAL CONFERENCE TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO LARGEST SOURCE OF EARLY-STAGE TECHNOLOGY FINANCING IN THE U.S. Contact David Speser at 407-791-0720. The federal government funds nearly $1 billion each year in early-stage Research and Development (R&D) projects at small technology companies through its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. These programs fund R&D projects that serve a Government need and often have commercial applications, providing: (1) up to $850,000 in pre-prototype R&D funding directly to small technology companies (or to individual entrepreneurs who form a company) and (2) up to $850,000 in pre-prototype R&D funding to small companies working cooperatively with researchers at universities and other research institutions. Small companies retain the patent rights to any inventions they develop. Funding is awarded competitively, but the process is streamlined and user-friendly. To facilitate participation in these programs, the National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, and eight other federal agencies will sponsor a National SBIR conference at the Dallas Airport Hyatt Regency in Dallas, Texas on April 29 - May 1, 1996. At the conference, small businesses and others will be able to meet individually with the federal SBIR and STTR managers, and with representatives from some of the nation's largest companies seeking partnerships with small companies. The conference will also feature seminars conducted by national experts on topics ranging from starting and financing a small technology company to SBIR/STTR proposal preparation and federal procurement procedures.

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