Treffer: SMALL BUSINESS RESEARCH PROGRAMS: Clearer Guidance Could Improve Award Data to More Effectively Measure Outcomes.

The article focuses on the findings of a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) regarding the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. In fiscal year 2023, approximately 50% of awards, totaling around $2.2 billion, were made through open topics, which allow small businesses to propose solutions to broadly defined research needs, as opposed to conventional topics where agencies specify their needs. The report highlights inconsistencies in how agencies categorize these topics, which complicates data comparability and hinders effective oversight by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and Congress. GAO recommends that the SBA establish clear definitions for open and conventional topics to improve data consistency and program assessment. [Extracted from the article]

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