Speaker to discuss process for obtaining SBIR grants from NIH

LAWRENCE — Lisa Kurek, a nationally recognized trainer in grant writing and commercialization for entrepreneurs, will present a free workshop at the University of Kansas, "Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grants: How to be Successful at the National Institutes of Health.” 

The presentation will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21, at the Bioscience & Technology Business Center, 2029 Becker Drive, on KU’s west campus. It is intended for KU faculty and staff, students, entrepreneurs and small-business leaders. Breakfast and lunch are provided, and space is limited.

The SBIR program reserves a portion of the research budgets of certain federal agencies for contracts or grants to small businesses. The annual amount available exceeds $1 billion, and more than half the awards are to firms with fewer than 25 people. The objectives of the program are to spur technological innovation in the small-business sector, meet the research and development needs of the federal government, and commercialize federally funded investments.

Kurek is an expert on the SBIR application process. Since 1997, she has been managing partner of BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting LLC in Ann Arbor, Mich. BBC works with universities, economic developers, and businesses to create and grow new life science companies. 

The program is the second in this fall’s KU Innovation and Collaboration “boot camp” educational series. Please RSVP by Friday, Oct. 18, to Bethany Scothorn or call (785) 864-6457.