GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED CONFERENCES SHOW SMALL HIGH-TECH BUSINESSES HOW TO APPLY FOR AND WIN R&D GRANTS The Fall 1996 National SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) Conferences will be held October 28-30 in the Crystal City, VA Hyatt Regency and November 13-15 in the Anaheim, CA Hilton & Towers. The SBIR Program funds firms with 500 or fewer employees to perform cutting-edge R&D that addresses the nation's most critical scientific and engineering needs. Spanning the technology spectrum--from aviation and agriculture to medicine and manufacturing--the Program has awarded more than $6 billion since its inception in 1983, with annual budgets now approaching $1 billion. The National SBIR Conferences provide a one-stop opportunity to learn how the Program works and to meet the key players. Managers and procurement specialists from every SBIR-sponsoring agency and department--including the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health & Human Services, and Transportation, NASA, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation and the Small Business Administration--will be on hand to discuss their programs and funding opportunities, as will large firms and universities looking for partners and subcontractors. Daily seminars will provide a wealth of practical advice on preparing proposals, raising capital, protecting intellectual property, marketing, and more. The conference agenda is essentially the same in both cities. Advance registration fee of $150 includes all meal functions. Sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, and the Small Business Administration, in cooperation with all SBIR Federal Agencies and Departments. For more information, call (360)683-5742; fax: (360)683-5391; e-mail:www.zyn.com/sbir/.

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