Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) awards expand Montana's investment in the research enterprise by helping researchers, inventors and entrepreneurs to become more competitive for federal SBIR awards. Three programs, run collectively by Montana NSF EPSCoR and the State of Montana's Department of Commerce SBIR Program, propose to build stronger applications in science & technology through support of SBIR grant writing (Phase 0), developing business plans, and investment in patent applications costs.

A few examples of technology businesses that have benefitted from this program:

• Bee Alert Technologies
• Visual Learning Systems
• Promiliad Biopharma, Inc.
• Safflower Technologies International
• Amazing Grains