Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

Short Description
The purpose of the Innovation Challenge Program is to increase the number of Illinois companies that apply for federal research grants. The federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and its parallel Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program provide over $2 billion a year to small companies developing leading-edge technologies of interest to 11 federal departments and agencies. The Illinois Innovation Challenge Program provides grant writing assistance to eligible Illinois technology-based entrepreneurs, innovators and new venture startups to access federal SBIR and STTR funding opportunities.

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Description

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and the University of Illinois have partnered to provide qualified Illinois small businesses and entrepreneurs with consultant services to assist in the preparation of SBIR or STTR proposals. Assistance services will be designed to match the needs of the small business in submitting a SBIR or STTR proposal. The consultant services will assist small businesses and entrepreneurs to identify, advance, prepare and/or review Phase I SBIR or STTR proposals. As a condition of accepting these Technical Assistance Program services, the applicant company agrees that it will submit an SBIR or STTR proposal. The company must also be located in Illinois throughout the SBIR/STTR Phase I project.

APPLICATION REVIEW AND APPROVAL PROCESS

Qualified staff from the Illinois Entrepreneurship Network will identify, screen and refer prospective small businesses and entrepreneurs for assistance. The referral process starts with an application that provides a description of the company (if established), technology and commercialization plans. Please contact John Barr at john.w.barr@illinois.gov for assistance in locating the Illinois entrepreneurship network staff to review your application. Applications will be considered, and assistance awarded on a rolling, first come, first serve basis until the funds available for the program have been exhausted. A company is eligible to receive one technical assistance award per state fiscal year (July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009).

The entrepreneurship network staff and the grant writing consultants will work with the company to assess the viability of the proposed project to determine the appropriate level of assistance to be provided through this program. The receipt of an Innovation Challenge Technical Assistance Grant application is not a guarantee or commitment for assistance or funding. Only projects that are considered viable will be provided assistance under this program.

GRANT APPLICATION

PROGRAM CONTACT

John Barr

Illinois Department of Commerce

and Economic Opportunity

100 West Randolph, Suite 3-400

Chicago, IL 60601

john.w.barr@illinois.gov

312-814-2259