One of the goals of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is to “increase private sector commercialization of innovations developed through Federal SBIR R&D.” Reauthorization legislations have consistently emphasized this goal by requiring agencies to include as a review criterion the commercial potential of a proposed project. To help NIH SBIR awardees move their products into the marketplace, NIH is developing a “menu” of technical assistance programs that will provide technical and/or commercialization assistance specific to the companies’ individual needs.  Programs are pilot tested prior to offering to all SBIR awardees. 

NIH offers the following trans-NIH SBIR assistance programs:

• Commercialization Assistance Program (CAP): Provides assistance with developing and implementing an appropriate business strategy that will help commercialize the products that have resulted from federally funded SBIR research projects. Slots for seventy-five (75) NIH SBIR Phase II awardees are available each year.
  
  Click here for CAP details
  
  
• Niche Assessment Program (NAP): Assesses if there are other applications or niches for the SBIR-developed technology and evaluates the market opportunities, needs and concerns of the end-users, and helps to discover new markets for possible entry. Slots for seventy-five (75) NIH SBIR Phase I awardees are available each year.
  
  Click here for NAP details