Federal Research: Observations on the Small Business Innovation Research Program

GAO discussed the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, focusing on: (1) agencies' adherence to statutory funding requirements; (2) agencies' audits of extramural (external) research and development (R&D) budgets; (3) the effect of the application review process and funding cycles on award recipients; (4) the extent of companies' project activity after receiving SBIR funding and agencies' techniques to foster commercialization; (5) the number of multiple award recipients and the extent of project activity after receiving SBIR funding; (6) the occurrence of funding for single proposal awards; (7) participation by women-owned business and socially and economically disadvantaged business; (8) SBIR's promotion of the critical technologies; (9) the extent foreign firms benefit from SBIR results; and (10) the geographical distribution of SBIR awards.