National Science Foundation SBIR/STTR MatchMaker Program April 2008 T. James Rudd, Ph. D Industrial Innovation and Partnerships National Science Foundation
NSF SBIR/STTR Innovation Model PHASE III Product Development to Commercial Market PHASE I Feasibility Research $100k/6 mos Taxes Federal Investment PHASE II Research towards Prototype $500k/24 mos MATCH MAKER Phase IIB Third-Party Investment + 1:2 NSF Matching Private Sector or Non-SBIR Investment Phase I B 1:2 NSF Matching
Supplements NSF supplements to existing grants are important driver for small businesses to partner with industry. Currently over 20% of NSF SBIR grant funds go towards supplements as an optimum way to “bridging the gap”. MatchMaker is designed to broaden partnering beyond existing supplement programs.
MatchMaker Objective To match SBIR/STTR Grantees with Strategic Partners, Angel Investors and V.C’s to provide the ongoing support necessary for achieving successful commercialization.
EXTERNAL TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIPS/ALLIANCES Targeted Approach to Access External Technologies SOURCESSOURCESSOURCESSOURCES Ind. Co.’s & Labs Universities Federal Labs Business Unit CTP SBIR Phase I: Linking/Develop Agreement (Search, Analyze, Select) Business Unit Courtesy of: John Tao, Air Products
MatchMaker Process Strategic Partners Industry Pull Push SBIR/STTR Companies Technology Products Flow Core Technologies Technology Needs
Industrial companies - new contacts IBM Alcatel-Lucent ( Bell Laboratories) Agilent Microsoft HP Labs Medtronics Kodak Raytheon International Flavors and Fragrances
Industrial companies - new contacts (cont’d) Ashland Corning Armstrong Kimberley Clark Mead Westvaco Computer Associates (CA) Cabot Praxair Northrop Grumann
MatchMaker Program Venture Capital Partners ARCH Venture Partners Mohr, Davidow Ventures Alameda Capital, LLC Taproot Ventures The Carlyle Group Paladin Capital Group Quantum Venture Partners
MatchMaker Program Venture Partners/Angels AM Benjamin Services Venture Investors JK&B Capital ITU Ventures Draper Atlantic Technology Tree (Houston Angels) Atlanta Technology Angels
Partnering Progress In the past several years we have seen notable successes in partnering for SBIR companies. A recent National Academy study shows: License agreements 20% R&D agreements 17% Marketing/Distribution 16% Manufacturing agreements 8% Joint Venture agreements 3%
Partnering Progress Some partnerships have been so strong that they have led to outright acquisitions of SBIR companies. Notable acquisitions have been made by GE, Dupont,Philips NV, Fisher Scientific; Alliant, Symyx, ICX, Lockheed Martin; Comcast, Siemens, Goodrich, Pearson, LLC.
Enrollment It is recommended that every grantee consider enrolling in the MatchMaker program to take advantage of the partnering opportunities. Enrollment in NSF MatchMaker Program is free to Grantees, Industrial Partners and Strategic Investors. Please consult the Matchmaker website to sign up.
Thank you! James Rudd