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Small businesses are the engine of growth and innovation in the American economy. Studies show that small businesses employ 41 percent of the nation's high tech workers and generate 13 to 14 times more patents per employee than large firms. In order to help drive research forward and to harness the efforts of innovative small businesses for the benefit of agency missions and the public good, the federal government has several programs designed to enable small businesses to pursue innovative projects in a diverse set of fields from national security to healthcare to energy.

All agencies with an external research and development budget exceeding $100 million are required to set aside 2.5 percent of this budget for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Currently, 11 federal agencies participate, and each of these agencies issues solicitations on a periodic basis, seeking innovative project proposals from small businesses to meet the agencies needs and to keep the country on the cutting edge of technology. Since its inception in 1982, the program has been a resounding success. According to the Small Business Administration, approximately 1 in 4 SBIR projects will result in the sale of new commercial products or processes. Among the technologies pioneered by SBIR-funded small businesses are a machine that uses lasers and computer cameras to sort and inspect bullets at a much finer level of detail than the human eye can manage, the technology that creates the "invisible" condensation trail of the B-2 bomber, and a needleless infusion patch that enables fast, cost-effective, controlled, and painless delivery of drugs and vaccines through the skin.

The Committee is currently working on legislation to reauthorize the SBIR program which expires September 30, 2008.

Press Releases
07/31/09	Innovation and Research Program Temporarily Extended
07/14/09	Senate Passes Small Business Innovation Bill
07/10/09	Appropriations Committee Increases Budget for Small Business Programs
06/22/09	Cardin Calls on NIH to Utilize Small Businesses for Extramural Research Projects
06/18/09	Small Business Committee Votes to Reauthorize SBIR/STTR and Entrepreneurial Development Programs

Statements
06/04/09	Senator Landrieu's opening statement SBIR and STTR Reauthorization: Ensuring a Strong Future for Small Business in Federal Research and Development
07/30/08	Kerry Opening Statement on the Markup for S.3362, the SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2008
04/28/08	Senator Kerry's Prepared Remarks on Small Business Legislation
10/18/07	Kerry Opening Statement at SBIR Program Roundtable (Part II)
08/01/07	Kerry Opening Statement at SBIR Program roundtable

Articles
06/18/09	Senate Panel Approves Small Business Measures
06/12/09	Fostering small business innovation
06/11/09	Landrieu wants SBA programs extended
12/08/08	What Will Obama's SBA Be Like?
09/22/08	Attack on funding program would hurt many firms