SBIR/STTR Innovation Workforce Act
The SBIR/STTR Innovation Workforce Act would add a new authority to allow federal agencies to use SBIR and STTR Phase II funds to support fellowship and internship programs for small business concerns that have Phase II awards. These opportunities would be available to students and trainees across undergraduate to postdoctoral levels in fields important to the sponsoring agency. The bill also requires agencies to boost outreach to women, socially disadvantaged individuals, and economically disadvantaged individuals to participate in these fellowships, and it allows agencies to partner with nonprofit organizations to administer or enhance these outreach efforts. Funding for these fellowships would be subject to specific caps, with agencies using certain authorities able to access existing funds, and other agencies limited to no more than 3% of funds expended under paragraph (1). The same fellowship authority is provided for both the SBIR and STTR programs.
Key Points
- 1Creates a fellowships and internships option for SBIR/STTR Phase II award recipients, open to students and postdoctoral researchers in fields important to the agency.
- 2Requires enhanced outreach to increase participation by women, socially disadvantaged individuals, and economically disadvantaged individuals in the fellowship opportunities.
- 3Authorizes partnerships with nonprofit organizations to help deliver and manage the outreach and fellowship programs.
- 4Establishes funding limits: agencies using the cited authority can use funds as allowed under that authority; other agencies are capped at not more than 3% of funds required to be expended under paragraph (1).
- 5Applies the fellowship framework to both SBIR and STTR programs, ensuring parallel provisions across the two initiatives.