Interested in pursuing or applying for SBIR/STTR funding? Attend the Innovation Summit

December 13, 2021

The New Mexico SBIR/STTR Innovation Summit will bring together small businesses, federal program managers, defense representatives, experts, and local organizations with a vested interest in driving innovation through the SBIR and STTR programs.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks is among four universities forming the Mesas to Mountains program supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Small Business Innovation Research Catalyst program. The initiative addresses current gaps in access to the innovation economy for communities of color, women entrepreneurs, and rural communities.

UAF’s’ Center for Innovation, Commercialization, and Entrepreneurship (Center ICE) is collaborating with the University of Idaho, the Arrowhead Center at New Mexico State University, and TechLink at Montana State University to assist small businesses in those universities’ home states. The effort will begin in spring 2022.

“We’re thrilled to bring the combined SBIR expertise of New Mexico, Alaska, Idaho and Montana to small businesses owned by Alaska’s underrepresented populations, which have enormous potential to take a lead in defining Alaska’s future economy,” said Mark Billingsley, director of the University of Alaska Fairbanks Office of Intellectual Property and Commercialization, and director of the Center ICE.

In Alaska, less than 12 percent of small businesses are owned by women and minorities. Through the Mesas to Mountains program, Center ICE will help those underserved populations by offering mentorship, training and guidance to help the business owners submit successful grant proposals.

The program will provide support to help minority business owners access federal funding for research and development, helping them start or grow their businesses and increase their probability of success.

For more information, contact Project Manager Evelyn Jacome at edjacome@alaska.edu.