National Academies Press: OpenBook

An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the National Science Foundation (2008)

Chapter: Appendix C: NRC Phase I Survey

« Previous: Appendix B: NRC Phase II Survey and NRC Firm Survey
Suggested Citation:"Appendix C: NRC Phase I Survey." National Research Council. 2008. An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the National Science Foundation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11929.
×

Appendix C
NRC Phase I Survey

This section describes a survey of Phase I SBIR awards over the period 1992–2001. The intent of the survey was to obtain information on those which did not proceed to Phase II, although most that did receive a Phase II were also surveyed.

Over that period the five agencies (DoD, DoE, NIH, NASA, and NSF) made 27,978 Phase I awards. Of the total number for the five agencies, 7,940 Phase I awards could be linked to one of the 11,214 Phase II awards made from 1992–2001. To avoid putting an unreasonable burden on the firms which had many awards, we identified all firms which had over ten Phase I awards that apparently had not received a Phase II. For those firms, we did not survey any Phase I awards that also received a Phase II. This amounted to 1,679 Phase Is that were not surveyed.

We chose to survey the principal investigator (PI) rather than the firm both to reduce the number of surveys that any person would have to complete, and because if the Phase I had not gone on to a Phase II, the PI was more likely to have any memory of it than would the firm officials. There were no PI email addresses for 5,030 Phase I, a fact that reduced the number of surveys sent since the survey was conduced by email.

Thus there were 21,269 surveys (27,978 minus 1,679 minus 5,030 = 21,269) emailed to 9,184 PIs. Many PIs had received multiple Phase Is. Of these surveys, 6,770 were bounced (undeliverable) email. This left possible responses of 14,499. Of these, there were 2,746 responses received. The responses received represented 9.8 percent of all Phase I awards for the five agencies, or 12.9 percent of all surveys emailed, and 18.9 percent of all possible responses.

The agency breakdown, including Phase I Survey results, is given in Table App-C-1.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix C: NRC Phase I Survey." National Research Council. 2008. An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the National Science Foundation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11929.
×

TABLE App-C-1 Agency Breakdown for Phase I Survey

Phase I Surveys by Agency

Phase I awards, 1992–2001

Answered Survey (Number)

Answered Survey (%)

DoD

13,103

1,198

9

DoE

2,005

281

14

NASA

3,363

303

9

NIH

7,049

716

10

NSF

2,458

248

10

Total

27,978

2,746

10

Suggested Citation:"Appendix C: NRC Phase I Survey." National Research Council. 2008. An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the National Science Foundation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11929.
×

NRC Phase I Survey Results


NOTE: ALL RESULTS APPEAR IN BOLD. TWO SETS OF RESULTS ARE REPORTED—THOSE FOR RESPONDENTS ACROSS 5 AGENCIES (DOD, NIH, NSF, DOE, AND NASA) AND THOSE FOR ONLY NSF. NSF RESULTS APPEAR IN PARENTHESES. EXPLANATORY NOTES ARE IN A TYPEWRITER FONT.


2,746 (248) responded to the survey. Of these 1,380 (113) received the follow on phase II. 1,366 (135) received only a Phase I.

  1. Did you receive assistance in preparation for this Phase I proposal?

Phase I only

Received Phase II

95%

(97%)

No Skip to Question 3.

93%

(93%)

No

5%

(3%)

Yes Go to Question 2.

7%

(8%)

Yes

  1. If you received assistance in preparation for this Phase I proposal, put an X in the first column for any sources that assisted and in the second column for the most useful source of assistance. Check all that apply. Answered by 74 (4) Phase I only and 91 (9) Phase II who received assistance.

Phase I only

Assisted/Most Useful

Received Phase II

Assisted/Most Useful

10/3

(0/0)

State agency provided assistance

11/10

(2/2)

15/9

(0/0)

Mentor company provided assistance

21/15

(1/0)

31/17(1/1)

University provided assistance

34/22

(5/4)

16/8

(2/2)

Federal agency SBIR program

Managers or technical representatives provided assistance

25/19

(2/2)

  1. Did you receive a Phase II award as a sequential direct follow-on to this Phase I award? If yes, please check yes. Your survey would have been automatically submitted with the HTML format. Using this Word format, you are done after answering this question. Please email this as an attachment to jcahill@brtrc.com or fax to Joe Cahill 703 204 9447. Thank you for you participation. 2,746 (248) responses.

    50%(54%) No. We did not receive a follow-on Phase II after this Phase I.

    50%(46%) Yes. We did receive the follow-on Phase II after this Phase I.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix C: NRC Phase I Survey." National Research Council. 2008. An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the National Science Foundation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11929.
×
  1. Which statement correctly describes why you did not receive the Phase II award after completion of your Phase I effort. Select best answer. All questions which follow were answered by those 1,366 (135) who did not receive the follow on Phase II. % based on 1,366 (135) responses.

33%

(32%)

The company did not apply for a Phase II. Go to question 5.

63%

(58%)

The company applied, but was not selected for a Phase II. Skip to question 6.

1%

(1%)

The company was selected for a Phase II, but negotiations with the government failed to result in a grant or contract. Skip to question 6.

3%

(8%)

Did not respond to question 4.

  1. The company did not apply for a Phase II because: Select all that apply. % based on 446 (43) who answered “The company did not apply for a Phase II” in question 4.

38%

(53%)

Phase I did not demonstrate sufficient technical promise.

11%

(37%)

Phase II was not expected to have sufficient commercial promise.

6%

(5%)

The research goals were met by Phase I. No Phase II was required.

34%

(14%)

The agency did not invite a Phase II proposal.

3%

(7%)

Preparation of a Phase II proposal was considered too difficult to be cost effective.

1%

(0%)

The company did not want to undergo the audit process.

8%

(7%)

The company shifted priorities.

5%

(5%)

The PI was no longer available.

6%

(2%)

The government indicated it was not interested in a Phase II.

13%

(5%)

Other—explain: Commercial partner reluctance; death of key personnel

  1. Did this Phase I produce a noncommercial benefit? Check all responses that apply. % based on 1,366 (135).

59%

(41%)

The awarding agency obtained useful information.

83%

(79%)

The firm improved its knowledge of this technology.

27%

(27%)

The firm hired or retained one or more valuable employees.

17%

(18%)

The public directly benefited or will benefit from the results of this Phase I. Briefly explain benefit.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix C: NRC Phase I Survey." National Research Council. 2008. An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the National Science Foundation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11929.
×

25 responses explaining benefits.

Published and presented scientific results, led to advances in field (5)

Work referenced by many others (1)

New modeling capability of 2-phase flows commercially available (1)

Led to subsequent Phase I and Phase II awards (1)

Improved software for analyzing unstructured data (1)

Demonstrated upgrade to electric transmission distribution grid (1)

Environmentally safe alternative (1)

Led eventually to product produced by Adelphi spinoff (1)

Assessment materials were produced that were incorporated into the company’s textbooks. An assessment framework was developed that guided commercial textbook development (1)

Production of less expensive natural gas (1)

Will be helpful to develop an efficient NOx emission control technology

Project clearly established student ability to use assistive technology to perform classroom activities (1)

Led to another application (1)

Recycling post consumer bumpers (1)

Publicized hot (hard??) to make dense nanostructured nickel oxide battery electrodes (1)

Sensors used to protect the Liberty Bell from damage (1)

Provided training for interns and student workers (1)

We became more proficient at carrying out SBIR research, and went on to other projects were we succeeded in getting to Phase 2. We are now a thriving commercially viable business (1)

Products were commercialized (1)

Technology was used to develop current products (1)

Knowledge of nanoparticle dispersion (1)

13%

(16%)

This Phase I was essential to founding the firm or to keeping the firm in business.

8%

(8%)

No

  1. Although no Phase II was awarded, did your company continue to pursue the technology examined in this Phase I? Select all that apply. % based on 1,366 (135).

46%

(45%)

The company did not pursue this effort further.

22%

(22%)

The company received at least one subsequent Phase I SBIR award in this technology.

14%

(20%)

Although the company did not receive the direct follow-on Phase II to this Phase I, the company did receive at least one other subsequent Phase II SBIR award in this technology.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix C: NRC Phase I Survey." National Research Council. 2008. An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the National Science Foundation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11929.
×

12%

(10%)

The company received subsequent federal non-SBIR contracts or grants in this technology.

9%

(12%)

The company commercialized the technology from this Phase I.

2%

(4%)

The company licensed or sold their rights in the technology developed in this Phase I.

16%

(13%)

The company pursued the technology after Phase I, but it did not result in subsequent grants, contracts, licensing or sales.

Part II. Commercialization

  1. How did you, or do you, expect to commercialize your SBIR award? Select all that apply. % based on 1,366 (135).

33%

(26%)

No commercial product, process, or service was/is planned.

16%

(14%)

As software

32%

(32%)

As hardware (final product component or intermediate hardware product)

20%

(36%)

As process technology

11%

(13%)

As new or improved service capability

15%

(12%)

As a research tool

4%

(2%)

As a drug or biologic

3%

(6%)

As educational materials

  1. Has your company had any actual sales of products, processes, services, or other sales incorporating the technology developed during this Phase I?

    Select all that apply. % based on 1,366 (135).

5%

(4%)

Although there are no sales to date, the outcome of this Phase I is in use by the intended target population.

65%

(59%)

No sales to date, nor are sales expected. Go to question 11.

15%

(10%)

No sales to date, but sales are expected. Go to question 11.

9%

(15%)

Sales of product(s)

1%

(3%)

Sales of process(es)

6%

(10%)

Sales of services(s)

2%

(4%)

Other sales (e.g., rights to technology, sale of spin-off company, etc.)

2%

(3%)

Licensing fees

  1. For your company and/or your licensee(s), when did the first sale occur, and what is the approximate amount of total sales resulting from the technology developed during this phase I? If other SBIR awards contributed to the ultimate commercial outcome, estimate only the share of total sales appropriate to this

Suggested Citation:"Appendix C: NRC Phase I Survey." National Research Council. 2008. An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the National Science Foundation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11929.
×

Phase I project. (Enter the requested information for your company in the first column and, if applicable and if known, for your licensee(s) in the second column. Enter dollars. If none, enter 0 [zero]; leave blank if unknown.)

 

Your Company

Licensee(s)

a. Year when first sale occurred

89 of 147 after 1999

11 of 13 after 1999

b. Total Sales Dollars of Product(s) Process(es) or Service(s) to date

(12 of 22 after 1999)

(1 of 1 after 1999)

Sale Averages

$84,735 ($93,167)

$3,947 ($741)

Top 5 Sales

1. $20,000,000 ($2,033,589)

Accounts for 43% (62%) of all sales

2. $15,000,000 ($2,000,000)

3. $5,600,000 ($1,893,000)

4. $5,000,000 ($1,200,000)

5. $4,200,000 ($700,000)

c. Other Total Sales Dollars (e.g., Rights to technology, Sale of spin-off company, etc.) to date

Sale Averages

$1,878 ($2,222)

$0 (0)

Sale averages determined by dividing totals by 1,366 (135) responders

  1. If applicable, please give the number of patents, copyrights, trademarks and/ or scientific publications for the technology developed as a result of Phase I. (Enter numbers. If none, enter 0 [zero]; leave blank if unknown.)

    #Applied For or Submitted / # Received/Published

319 (48) / 251 (35)

Patent(s)

50 (16) / 42 (16)

Copyright(s)

52 (15) / 47 (14)

Trademark(s)

521 (52) / 472 (49)

Scientific Publication(s)

  1. In your opinion, in the absence of this Phase I award, would your company have undertaken this Phase I research? Select only one lettered response. If you select c., and the research, absent the SBIR award, would have been different in scope or duration, check all appropriate boxes. Unless otherwise stated, % are based on 1,366 (135).

Suggested Citation:"Appendix C: NRC Phase I Survey." National Research Council. 2008. An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the National Science Foundation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11929.
×

a.

5%

(8%)

Definitely yes

b.

7%

(5%)

Probably yes, similar scope and duration

c.

16%

(21%)

Probably yes, but the research would have been different in the following way

% based on 218 (29) who responded probably yes, but research would have …

1)

75%

(72%)

Reduced scope

2)

4%

(0%)

Increased scope

21%

(28%)

No response to scope

3)

5%

(3%)

Faster completion

4)

51%

(59%)

Slower completion

44%

 

No response to completion rate

d.

14%

(15%)

Uncertain

e.

40%

(34%)

Probably not

f.

16%

(11%)

Definitely not

g.

4%

(0%)

No response to question 12

Part III. Funding and other assistance


Commercialization of the results of an SBIR project normally requires additional developmental funding. Questions 13 and 14 address additional funding. Additional Developmental Funds include non-SBIR funds from federal or private sector sources, or from your own company, used for further development and/or commercialization of the technology developed during this Phase I project.

  1. Have you received or invested any additional developmental funding in this Phase I? % based on 1,366 (135).

25%

(27%)

Yes. Go to question 14.

72%

(68%)

No. Skip question 14 and submit the survey.

3%

(5%)

No response to question 13.

  1. To date, what has been the approximate total additional developmental funding for the technology developed during this Phase I? (Enter numbers. If none, enter 0 [zero]; leave blank if unknown.)

Suggested Citation:"Appendix C: NRC Phase I Survey." National Research Council. 2008. An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the National Science Foundation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11929.
×

Source

# Reporting that source

Developmental Funding (Average Funding)

a. Non-SBIR federal funds

79 (17)

$72,697 ($12,306)

b. Private Investment

 

 

(1) U.S. Venture Capital

13 (12)

$4,114 ($1,037)

(2) Foreign investment

8 (19)

$4,288 ($185)

(3) Other private equity

20 (13)

$7,605 ($2,963)

(4) Other domestic private company

39 (20)

$8,522 ($6,667)

c. Other sources

 

 

(1) State or local governments

20 (23)

$1,672 ($1,110)

(2) College or Universities

6 (18)

$293 (0)

d. Your own company

 

 

(Including money you have borrowed)

149 (30)

$21,548 ($16,733)

e. Personal funds of company owners

54 (21)

$4,955 ($963)

Average Funding determined by dividing totals by 1,366 (135) responders.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix C: NRC Phase I Survey." National Research Council. 2008. An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the National Science Foundation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11929.
×
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix C: NRC Phase I Survey." National Research Council. 2008. An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the National Science Foundation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11929.
×
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix C: NRC Phase I Survey." National Research Council. 2008. An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the National Science Foundation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11929.
×
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix C: NRC Phase I Survey." National Research Council. 2008. An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the National Science Foundation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11929.
×
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix C: NRC Phase I Survey." National Research Council. 2008. An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the National Science Foundation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11929.
×
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix C: NRC Phase I Survey." National Research Council. 2008. An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the National Science Foundation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11929.
×
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix C: NRC Phase I Survey." National Research Council. 2008. An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the National Science Foundation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11929.
×
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix C: NRC Phase I Survey." National Research Council. 2008. An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the National Science Foundation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11929.
×
Page 238
Suggested Citation:"Appendix C: NRC Phase I Survey." National Research Council. 2008. An Assessment of the SBIR Program at the National Science Foundation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11929.
×
Page 239
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The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is one of the largest examples of U.S. public-private partnerships. Founded in 1982, SBIR was designed to encourage small business to develop new processes and products and to provide quality research in support of the many missions of the U.S. government, including health, energy, the environment, and national defense. In response to a request from the U.S. Congress, the National Research Council assessed SBIR as administered by the five federal agencies that together make up 96 percent of program expenditures.

This book, one of six in the series, reports on the SBIR program at the National Science Foundation. The study finds that the SBIR program is sound in concept and effective in practice, but that it can also be improved. Currently, the program is delivering results that meet most of the congressional objectives, including stimulating technological innovation, increasing private-sector commercialization of innovations, using small businesses to meet federal research and development needs, and fostering participation by minority and disadvantaged persons. The book suggests ways in which the program can improve operations, continue to increase private-sector commercialization, and improve participation by women and minorities.

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