Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grants and Tech Transfer Programs for Water Startups with NOAA's Derek Parks

In this Interview, we meet Derek Parks who is the Commercialization Manager at the NOAA Technology Partnerships Office, a Federal Office based in Silver Spring, Maryland. The NOAA Technology Partnerships Office focuses on technology transfer and supporting small businesses through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.

ONE-LINER:

"NOAA's SBIR program is all about supporting small businesses in developing cutting-edge technologies that align with our mission areas, from climate change to water quality.."

Pitch/Reverse Pitch:

Don’t miss Derek's Overview of NOAA’s SBIR program and technology transfer opportunities, which you can find on the video from [2:30] to [4:59].

Discussion:

After the overview, we discuss:

• The importance of the SBIR program in providing early-stage R&D funding to small businesses developing innovative technologies aligned with NOAA’s mission.
• The technology transfer process at NOAA, including licensing opportunities and public-private partnerships to bring scientific research to market.
• The role of NOAA in addressing climate change, water quality, and coastal resilience through its broad mission areas.

Insights:

At [19:52], Derek talks about the opportunity for entrepreneurs to leverage NOAA’s technology transfer program, emphasizing the availability of federal research and resources to support commercialization.

Advice:

At [46:42], Derek advises startups to start early, thoroughly explore the universe of available opportunities, and be persistent in navigating the SBIR application process, highlighting that the effort is well worth it.