*** ONLINE APPLICATION IS LIVE ***
https://go.illinois.edu/NSF-SBIR-Training-Series
IMPORTANT DATES
Application Deadline: June 1, 2025. Required. One application per team. All materials, including reference recommendation, must be submitted by the deadline.
Notifications: We anticipate reaching out in mid-June regarding application status.
Workshop Sessions: Four bi-weekly sessions beginning Tuesday, July 8, 2025. Participants will join via Zoom from Noon to 1:30 PM.
Take the next step toward preparing critical SBIR/STTR proposal elements for an NSF Phase I proposal submission. Set your company up for success by joining our SET! NSF SBIR/STTR Training Series that begins in early July.
The Illinois FAST Center is offering a series of training workshops aimed at setting companies up for success with NSF SBIR/STTR proposal development. The series will help teams to develop critical NSF SBIR/STTR proposal elements. The training series offers two participation options: a Full Program option and an Audit Program option.
APPLYING TO PARTICIPATE
All interested teams are required to apply and to be invited to participate.
Illinois-based teams will be asked to choose one of two participation options:
- Full Program (limited number of teams)
- Audit-Only Program
An example of the application for Illinois-based teams can be viewed online at https://uofi.box.com/v/il-teams-example. Illinois-based teams who apply for the Full Program but are not selected will automatically be invited to join the Audit-Only Program.
Non-IL teams will apply by default to the Audit-Only Program and May opt to join the waitlist for the Full Program (pending space availability). An example of the application for Non-IL teams can be viewed online at https://uofi.box.com/v/non-il-teams-example.
Teams applying for the Full Program (or requesting to be waitlisted) must upload the following as part of the application:
- NSF Project Pitch document (PDF format)
- Readiness Portfolio (PDF format, template is available here)
- Reference contact information.
ADDITIONAL PROGRAM DETAILS
All teams invited to join the Set! NSF SBIR/STTR Training Series will have access to bi-weekly Zoom sessions, recorded session archives, and all course materials.
Teams invited to join the Full Program option will receive individual feedback from professional SBIR consultants on their proposal development tasks/documents throughout the series. The Full Program also requires a commitment of as much as 12-20 hours to complete and submit assigned development tasks for each session. Timely submission of development tasks is required to receive and benefit from the 1:1 feedback and support.
Since our Full Program has limited capacity, we are also offering an Audit Program option. Teams that choose (or are invited) to participate in the Audit Program will have access to all course sessions, archives, and materials. Audit Program teams will not receive the 1:1 feedback and support and will not be required, nor have the opportunity, to submit development tasks during the training series. Resources permitting, Audit Program participants may be offered an opportunity at the conclusion of the series to request a 1:1 session with an Illinois FAST Center SBIR consultant.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Additional resources that may be helpful when preparing and submitting your application are available online at https://uofi.box.com/v/nsf-set-app-resources, including:
- Examples of the applications for Illinois-based Teams and Non-IL Teams.
- Example of the online recommendation form to be completed by your reference.
- May 6 NSF Project Pitch Webinar & Slides Archives
- Need to develop your Readiness Portfolio? You can access the 3-part Ready! series of webinar and slide archives that focused on developing the portfolio.
PARTICIPATION COSTS
- The Audit Program is FREE for ALL Teams.
- The Full Program is FREE for Illinois-based teams that are invited to join.
- Non-IL teams that are invited to join the Full Program will be asked to pay a $1,000 cost-share fee. Details will be provided with invitation emails on how teams, or their accelerator programs, can submit payment.
Questions about the training series or the application process may be directed to il-fast-training@lists.illinois.edu.
ABOUT AMERICA'S SEED FUND - Powered by the Small Business Administration
America's Seed Fund supports innovation, scientific achievement, and entrepreneurship through small business innovation and research. Through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, America’s Seed Fund awards non-dilutive funding to develop technology and chart a path toward commercialization. The federal government invests in solutions and gives awardees the freedom to run their business according to their vision. Additional information is online at https://www.sbir.gov/