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NMSU small business innovation virtual summit is Dec. 14

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The New Mexico Federal and State Technology (NM FAST) Partnership program, housed at New Mexico State University’s Arrowhead Center, will host its sixth annual New Mexico Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Innovation Summit virtually Wednesday, Dec. 14, uniting small businesses, federal program managers, defense representatives, experts and support organizations vested in driving innovation through SBIR/STTR programs.

 Although based in New Mexico, the summit will be valuable to businesses nationally, as topics will cover federal-level information.

 SBIR/STTR programs, administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration, promote technological innovation and commercialization by providing non-dilutive funding to small businesses focusing on research and development. Eleven federal agencies participate in the SBIR/STTR programs and collectively offer about $4 billion in federal funding to small businesses annually.

 NM FAST serves the entire state of New Mexico with SBIR/STTR proposal development programming and assistance, working to increase participation in SBIR/STTR programs from underserved, innovative and technology-driven small businesses. NM FAST contributes to the state’s growing technology and innovation ecosystem by offering micro-grants, mentoring and statewide workshops and events like the Innovation Summit.

This year’s summit will expand on the success of last year’s event, which was held virtually and had participation from across the world, with more than 340 attendees from 38 states and four countries.

The Innovation Summit will feature intriguing sessions with panels led by industry experts and federal officers. Participants will have the unique opportunity to meet one-on-one with experts and key decision-makers about their innovative ideas. Attendees will hear from experts during panels that will break down the SBIR/STTR process for first-time applicants, discuss innovation as a business practice, and illustrate the importance of teaming and partnering. Federal agency program managers and representatives will offer rapid-fire pitches about some of the biggest differences among SBIR/STTR agencies and what types of innovations they are funding. Attendees will also learn about the differences between grants and contracts and what they mean for businesses. Representatives from the U.S. Navy, Air Force and Army SBIR/STTR programs will also present upcoming topics and solicitation cycles.

John Williams, director of Innovation and Technology for the Office of Investment and Innovation within the SBA, will deliver the keynote address at this year's summit.

This year’s event will be free to all attendees.

Register at https://arrowheadcenter.org/program/nm-fast/innovation-summit/.


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