Commercialization Pilot Program

The U.S. Army established its new SBIR Commercialization Pilot Program (CPP) in response to the 2006 National Defense Authorization Act. The purpose of the CPP is to increase Army SBIR technology transition and commercialization success, thereby accelerating the fielding of capabilities to soldiers and benefiting the nation through stimulated technological innovation, improved manufacturing capability, and increased competition, productivity, and economic growth.

As a part of the implementation of CPP, a new fund of SBIR dollars has been allocated to fund CPP participants. This funding will be provided to selected Army SBIR Phase II projects as a modification of their current SBIR contract for expanded research, development, testing and evaluation of the Phase II technology. Approximately twenty-five (25) current Army SBIR Phase II projects will be selected during 2007 to participate in the Army’s initial CPP and will be allocated enhanced funding from the estimated $15 million CPP fund.

MILCOM Venture Partners (MILCOM) was selected as the Army’s contractor to help manage the CPP, and will: 1) review current SBIR Phase II projects and recommend approximately 25 projects for participation in CPP; 2) provide assistance intended to accelerate technology transition and commercialization to the projects selected for CPP participation; and 3) recommend the amount of additional funding each participating SBIR Phase II project will be allocated from the $15 million CPP fund. In making recommendations for participation in CPP, the following characteristics will be given significant consideration by MILCOM:

1. The Phase II technology meets a high priority Army requirement;
2. The technology can be rapidly transitioned to Army acquisition and/or a commercial product; and,
3. Transition to military or commercial products will provide a significant financial return on the investment made in the technology by the SBIR Program, in the form of non-SBIR investment in such technology and product revenue.

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