Sun, Jun 07, 2009
'Reauthorization of government programs that enable small
aerospace businesses to drive innovation and technology are
important for our country's future leadership and competitiveness,'
so says AIA President and CEO Marion Blakey.
"The Small Business Innovative Research and Small Business
Technology Transfer programs are proven stimulus programs and
consistently receive high marks across the board," Blakey said in
testimony to the House Contracting and Technology Committee. "They
are the only game in town when it comes to government funding of
early, innovative research and development for small
businesses."
More than six million scientists and engineers are self-employed
or employed by small firms, representing 38 percent of all the
scientists and engineers in America. SBIR and SSTR programs allow
this huge pool of talent to develop the next generation of
technologies.
AIA counts among its members 175 small- to medium-sized
businesses that belong to the association's Supplier Management
Council and are critical partners for prime companies for
sophisticated parts, subassemblies, subsystems and software. AIA
estimates that more than 70 percent of the parts for a weapon
system are typically supplied from outside sources to prime
contractors.
Blakey made a number of recommendations in her testimony
regarding SBIR and SSTR reauthorization:
- Allow limited venture capital participation so long as
safeguards ensure the integrity of the programs for small
businesses.
- Develop programs to bridge the gap between promising
technologies and potential commercialization and use in the agency
acquisition process.
- Increase the contract award sizes and overall funding
allocation percentage for the SBIR and STTR programs.
- Reauthorize the SBIR program through September 30, 2022, to
provide program continuity and provide an opportunity to evaluate
results.
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