Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI)
The Technology Strategy Board has launched a reformed SBRI programme designed to help early stage, high technology small businesses gain greater access to Research and Development opportunities.
The new SBRI is a procurement programme through which Government Departments buy research and development services, helping to bring new technologies to market and leading to the possibility of future commercial procurement in the public sector.
The programme is aimed at businesses working on the development of an innovative process, material, device, product or service. It is open to all businesses but is particularly beneficial to SMEs.
Developments will be 100% funded and will be targeted at specific identified needs in each Department, increasing the chance of exploitation. Suppliers for each project will be selected by an open competition process and retain the IPR generated from the project, with certain rights of use retained by the contracting Department.
The Technology Strategy Board is launching pilot competitions for the new SBRI, operating in two phases. Phase 1 projects are to demonstrate technical feasibility; contracts are limited to a maximum of £100k and 6 months. After Phase 1 each project will be evaluated, and successful ones will be eligible to enter a competition for Phase 2, to develop and demonstrate the technology, including prototypes and trials in a realistic operational environment. Phase 2 contracts are limited to a maximum of £1m and 2 years. Successful completion of Phase 2 may lead to individual arrangements for commercialisation and product procurement (outside SBRI and according to Departments’ needs).
Successful businesses will be those whose technology addresses specific needs identified in the competitions, and could make a measurable improvement to what is currently being procured by the target government department. SBRI projects are intended to achieve major milestones on the route to commercialisation, including prototyping and demonstration, and to be particularly helpful to early stage companies.
The first pilot competition, with the MOD, is now open, and further details of the Health pilot will be available soon.
For more information please visit the Technology Strategy Board website.
General enquiries about the SBRI programme can be directed by email.