Virtual SBIR Speaker Series | Something For Everyone: Understanding the NSF’s SBIR Program

The NSF’s SBIR program focuses on transforming scientific and engineering discoveries into products and services with commercial and societal impact. The deep technologies they fund show promise but their success hasn’t yet been validated. Each year, they award $200+ million in research and development (R&D) funding to approximately 400 startups across the United States. Attendees will learn the basics of this program, eligibility requirements, currently funded research topics, how to apply to the program, and additional program opportunities the NSF offers small businesses beyond SBIR.

About Our Speaker:

Alastair Monk SBIR/STTR Program Director National Science Foundation

Alastair Monk joined the National Science Foundation as an SBIR/STTR program director in November 2019. Prior to NSF, Alastair was an active member of the startup ecosystem in Virginia as a mentor, judge, and entrepreneur. He has been directly involved in medical startups for the last 10 years. Most recently, Alastair was the Vice President of Medical Products at Cupron, Inc. where he led the development, protection, and commercialization of a platform copper antimicrobial technology. He also founded and ran Chrysalides Consultants, a consultancy firm mentoring and providing strategic support to medical startups. Prior to Cupron and Chrysalides Consultants, Alastair was Head Scientist at Biocontrol Ltd (now Armata Pharmaceuticals) developing and commercializing bacteriophage therapy for clinical applications.

Key Take-Aways:

• Provide an overview of the SBIR/STTR program
• Introduce the NSF’s America’s Seed Fund program and their technical areas of interest
• Preview the Pitch submission process (required to submit a full proposal)

Who Should Attend:
The NSF funds nearly all areas of technology, from manufacturing to artificial intelligence to biological technologies to environmental technologies, energy technologies, photonics, semiconductors, space, and more! Nearly all technology companies have relevant research topics to pursue.

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