The Alaska Small Business Development Center’s (Alaska SBDC) Technology Research and Development Center of Alaska (TREND program), in partnership with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), will begin accepting applications for the 2023 Phase 0 grant program on June 1, 2023.
The Phase 0 grant program aims to support Alaskan innovators in developing and submitting proposals for federal innovation research grants that will benefit the nation. It serves as an optional phase designed to give Phase I and Phase II proposals a greater rate of success by providing expert reviews and financial support. Though not required, SBIR and STTR proposals submitted under the Phase 0 program have a 30% award rate while the national average is just 15%.
The TREND program provides technical assistance and proposal writing instructions to help develop successful commercialization plans. The top five participants of the 2023 TREND Phase 0 Grant Program will be awarded an SBIR Phase 0 grant of up to $10,000. Examples of allowable expenses include, but are not limited to, organization and analyses of preliminary data, further data collection and feasibility studies, commercialization planning, meetings with collaborators, professional training, literature searches, and technical writing.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to watch the free on-demand informational SBIR Phase 0 Introduction video and are invited to share their applications prior to June 30, 2023 for an initial review and to receive feedback regarding additional information or corrections.
- June 1, 2023 – The Phase 0 grant application opens
- June 30, 2023 – Early application deadline to receive an initial review for application completeness and compliance
- July 10, 2023 – Phase 0 grant application period closes
- July 11 – August 13, 2023 – TREND Phase 0 Committee will evaluate the application packets and the winning applicants will be announced during the week of August 13, 2023
- September, 2023 – Phase 0 grant funds awarded and disbursed
This funding opportunity is perfect for companies and innovators who are in the early stages of commercializing their technologies and working to develop proposals with increased technical merit and competitiveness. Since 2019, $186,400 Phase 0 funds have been distributed to innovators and businesses across Alaska.
The Alaska SBDC encourages participants to visit the TREND website to begin the SBIR Phase 0 Entry Form.