Escaping the valley of death - bridging the gap between proof of concept and commercialisation

SIA has long lobbied government for both Proof of Concept support as well as funding support to help ideas make it to market.

In the US, since 1983, they have had SBIR (Small Business Innovative Research) grants to help escape the "Valley Of Death". SBIR grants are a 27-year-old US government initiative that steers federal dollars to small businesses working on projects that might be too risky for private investors.

This article shows how the US is taking the next steps to build on the good that SBIR grants have wrought and fill in any further funding gaps. The new measure, sponsored by Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, would create a new grant program for companies whose federal research and development dollars are drying up -- just as they begin focusing on pushing new products to market.

Right now, Tonko said, "We just take people halfway through the journey."

There is "an abundance of success stories out there," where federal R&D money has led to promising prototypes, Tonko said. "That's not the time to drop the commitment or have a modest commitment. We need a robust, passionate resolve to absorb some of the high-risk, high-reward opportunities here."

Commercialisation Australia.......where are you.......?? Read the article here.....