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Faculty-Affiliated Companies: Week 5 |
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Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer |
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Welcome to week five of our series on faculty-affiliated companies. |
We are covering important requirements and processes to help you confidently navigate the laws, policies, and standards that apply when you or your family members have ownership interests or other significant ties to a company.
If you missed last week, where we went over the use of University space and/or equipment & the involvement of students, post-docs and other trainees in faculty start-up activities, you can view it here.
This week’s focus: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) |
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The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs provide federal funding to small, for-profit businesses to support research and development that could lead to commercial products.
UConn may collaborate with a small business on these projects as a research institution (RI), but there are important requirements to keep in mind:
SBIRs fund small businesses directly. They may subcontract work to UConn, but it’s not required. STTRs require a formal collaboration between the small business and a research institution like UConn. To ensure compliance with federal and state rules:
The company’s portion of the research must be done in company space using company resources unless specifically approved by the funding agency and UConn. A faculty member cannot serve as both the PI for the small business and the PI for UConn on the same project. Faculty cannot be paid as consultants on a company’s SBIR or STTR award that also sponsors research at UConn. PI employment requirements vary by program:
SBIR: PI must be primarily employed by the company. STTR: PI may be employed by either the company or the University (except National Science Foundation STTRs, where the PI must work for the company). |
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Key Takeaway
SBIR and STTR collaborations can open exciting research opportunities, but faculty must maintain clear separation between University and company roles, space, and funding.
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Thanks for joining us for this series on Faculty-Affiliated Companies. You can find every email from this series on our website. |
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Did you find this series helpful? |
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