Of the many jobs bills competing for support this month on Capitol Hill, one would have a direct impact on the U.S. research community. But its progress this week has gone largely unnoticed amid the partisan battles between the White House and Congress over how best to stimulate the sluggish economy.
On Tuesday, Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) moved heaven and Earth to win Senate approval of a bill reauthorizing the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The largest federal research program for small businesses, SBIR is funded through a 2.5% tax on the budgets of 11 science agencies. Last year, the agencies made roughly $2.5 billion in competitive grants to entrepreneurs seeking to commercialize the latest technologies.
To read the full, original article click on this link: Senate Okays Changes to Program for High-Tech Start-Ups - ScienceInsider
