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| 1.0 A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT ACTION ITEM! The SBA is requesting comments to be made before the end of January on the issue of changing SBIR program eligibility rules to allow businesses owned and controlled by Venture Capital companies to participate in the SBIR program. It is crucially important that all voices be heard on this issue - go to the SBIRGateway website for complete information - and be sure to submit your comments before the end of January! return to CONTENTS |
| 2.0 SQUARE ONE SYSTEMS DESIGN WINS NAVY PHASE I Congratulations to Robert Viola of Square One Systems Design, Jackson, Wyoming, on his DoD/Navy Phase I award! Project Title: Compound Robotic Workcell Optimized for Shipboard Weapons Assembly |
| 3.0 DECEMBER PHASE 0 AWARD WINNERS Congratulations to December's Phase 0 award winners! return to CONTENTS |
| 4.0 DOD SBIR 05.1 SOLICITATION IS OPEN The DoD SBIR 2005.1 solicitation is open for proposal submission from December 15, 2004 through 6 a.m. January 14, 2005. Six DoD components -- the Department of the Navy, the Department of the Air Force, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), the Chemical Biological Defense (CBD), the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), and the Special Operations Command (SOCOM) -- have R&D topics in this solicitation under which Phase I proposals are sought. The Solicitation, which contains detailed information on the parameters of the SBIR program and how to submit a proposal, and Topics are available at http://www.dodsbir.net/solicitation. You may also search the topics by going to http://www.dodsbir.com/Topics. Please note : There have been three revisions to the 05.1 SBIR Solicitation Instructions:
2. New definition (see section 2.15 of the solicitation instructions); 3. Fast Track application submission (see section 4.5 of the solicitation instructions). Technical Q&A through SITIS Proposal Submission DoD SBIR Help Desk |
| 5.0 NEW PATENT FEES On December 8th, the President signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act which revises patent fees. Effective immediately, this Act also revises the patent fee structure. The patent application filing fee has now been separated into a filing fee, search fee, and examination fee. The fee schedule also now includes incentive to file the application electronically. Small entities that file electronically receive a 50% discount off the filing fee - $75 instead of $150. Individual inventors, small businesses, and nonprofits who qualify for small entity status already receive a 50% discount on most patent fees. The electronic filing discount is a 75% discount off the regular filing fee. The minimum amount in fees for a small entity to receive a utility patent and maintain it for 20 years is $4,700 ($4625 if filed online). However, you should expect to pay more for miscellaneous expenses and also the future maintenance fees that are due at 3.5, 7.5, and 11.5 years. The $4,700 minimum amount is based on the currrent fee schedule but fees, including maintenance fees, are revised annually. The minimum amount in fees for a large business to receive and maintain a utility patent for 20 years is $9,400. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office receives no tax dollars and is self-supporting on the fees it charges. To see the current fee schedule go to http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/qs/ope/fee2004dec08.htm. return to CONTENTS |
6.0 UPCOMING CONFERENCES/TRAININGS/SEMINARS/WORKSHOPS
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BILLINGS, MT -- Ag Inventors can now sign up for the 3rd Annual Ag Inventors Contest to be held during the Ag Technology Show January 13 - 15, 2005 in Billings, Montana at the Holiday Inn Trade Center. The contest is open to inventors who have an idea, an innovation or an invention that has a farm and or ranch application, and is commercially viable and original. There is no cost to enter and the deadline for entry to the contest is December 3, 2004. "A jury committee will select 7 finalists out of all of the entries submitted to the show organizers. The inventor finalists will be invited to display their idea or invention at the three day tradeshow free of charge," said Cynthia Berst, tradeshow producer. "A panel of 5 judges will select the $1,000 Top Inventor Award and show attendees can vote for their favorite inventor for the People's Choice Award." Berst is hosting the Ag Inventors Contest during the Ag Technology Show, a regional farm & ranch tradeshow, because of the valuable exposure for the inventors. "The contest finalists gain tremendous access to manufacturing and marketing companies and to the various government agencies that assist them how to turn their innovation into a viable business." said Berst. The winners of the Ag Inventors Contest 2004 were Fred Davison of Highwood, MT who won the $1,000 Top Inventor Award for his E-Z Reach Gate Winch. The People's Choice Award was given to Kent Granmoe of Glendive, MT for his Hydraulic Pressure Relief Tool. "The contestants came from all over Montana and Wyoming and all of them received great exposure with an article about the Ag Inventors Contest and their idea in their hometown newspapers," explained Berst about the benefits of contestants entering the contest. A complete set of inventor rules and entry forms can be obtained by interested inventors by writing to Cynthia Berst, Bright Cat Productions, PO Box 20044, Billings, MT 59104-0044 or by calling (406) 855-5765 or by email brightcatproductions@yahoo.com. "This is going to be another fantastic tradeshow and inventor's contest," said Berst. "Farmers, ranchers, exhibitors, attendees - everyone will have an opportunity to see the newest, latest and greatest innovations that are up and coming or already in the marketplace today at the tradeshow." The Ag Technology Show 2005 is the place to be if you're in the farming and ranching community for both Ag buyer and seller. The show will be opening at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 13, 2005 and closing at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 15, 2005. Exhibitors and attendees come from a large regional area and both admission and parking are free.
Scheduled for March 7-10, 2005 |
| 7.0 COMPETITION TIP: ESTABLISH TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE!!! The foundation for high quality SBIR proposals is technical excellence. The proposed innovation and the research/work plan both must reflect rigorous scientific principals and approaches. The credentials of the proposed work team should meet high standards of technical excellence. Technical excellence generally is a necessary condition for a proposal to score well in the evaluation and selection process. Other characteristics of high quality proposals will not "bail out" an inadequate technical presentation. How can technical excellence be insured in a proposal??? Make sure the proposal team is complete - both for the proposal preparation and for the proposed work. Consultants and subcontractors frequently are key to establishing a complete team. University resources play a key role in shoring up the technical excellence of SBIR proposals, especially in rural states. Include multiple critical review and rework cycles in the proposal preparation process. Discriminating team members can play a vital role in the critical review process to identify technical weaknesses, and to help them shore up these weaknesses in the proposal rework process. Four to six of these rigorous critical review periods (each about one week long) are key to a high quality proposal. The critical proposal review cycles cited above commonly identify needs for additional team members, modifications to the innovative concepts, and different work plan approaches. It takes time to make these adjustments in the proposal to achieve technical excellence. Therefore, significant time must be allocated to the critical proposal review and rework process. Establish technical excellence in the SBIR proposal - it is the foundation for a winning proposal. This competition tip first appeared in the September 15, 2000 issue of the Wyoming SBIR Newsletter. Follow this link to a complete set of Competition Tips. |
| 8.0 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND PUBLICATION INFORMATION
TO BE ADDED TO OR REMOVED FROM THE DISTRIBUTION LIST FOR THIS NEWSLETTER, SEND NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, AND EMAIL ADDRESS TO jillkline@vcn.com. Prepared by: Jill Kline, WSSI Outreach Coordinator, 307.682.2660 or toll free in Wyoming, 866.703.3280, jillkline@vcn.com, and Gene Watson, WSSI Program Manager, 307.742.7162, ewatson@wyoming.com. This newsletter is published every other week as part of the Wyoming SBIR/STTR Initiative (WSSI). The mission of the Initiative is to increase the number of federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program awards to Wyoming. The Wyoming Business Council (WBC) funds the initiative which is administered by the University of Wyoming Research Office. Please contact Jill Kline (see contact information above) with your comments. |