Empowering Innovators Through the
Innovate Alabama
SBIR/STTR Proposal Lab
The Innovate Alabama SBIR/STTR Proposal Lab, hosted by The Catalyst Center in partnership with The Alabama Collective and GovCon Incubator, supports Alabama’s small businesses in accessing critical federal SBIR/STTR funding, essential for advancing innovation and growth in underserved communities. Backed by a FAST Grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration and Innovate Alabama, the lab actively recruits a diverse cohort, including women-owned, small disadvantaged, and rural businesses.
Understanding SBIR/STTR
Grant Programs
The SBIR and STTR programs provide funding to eligible US-based small businesses with fewer than 500 employees. These programs help transform early-stage technologies into market-ready solutions, addressing federal R&D needs to foster:
- Scientific Excellence: Supporting innovative research and development
- Technology Commercialization: Helping small businesses transition ideas to market
- Economic Growth: Meeting federal R&D needs while building a strong national economy
SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research): Focuses on scientific excellence and innovation, advancing research and development to bring products to the commercial market.
STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer): Emphasizes partnerships between small businesses and research institutions, transferring ideas to the market to benefit both private-sector and military needs.
The Innovate Alabama
SBIR/STTR Proposal Lab
The Innovate Alabama SBIR/STTR Proposal Lab offers resources and expert guidance to help businesses prepare competitive proposals. Access training materials and webinars before joining our two-stage cohort program:
- Stage One: 40 participants engage in business planning, commercialization, and proposal writing through workshops and pitch development.
- Stage Two: 20 participants advance to refine business models and improve proposal quality through focused workshops and team reviews.
