Small Business Innovative Research/Technology Transfer Programs & Aerospace

By Marion Blakey, Aerospace Industries Assn. , Posted 06/11/09

Link: http://www.aia-aerospace.org/assets/AIA%20Testimony_SBIR%20Hearing%20060409_F...

Blakey represents the Aerospace Industries Assn. consisting of about 300 aerospace manufacturing companies and thousands of small business subcontractor businesses who supply them with subsystem parts. Together they represent about 2 million well-paying jobs and the industry sector provides a positive trade balance of $57B, the largest of any U.S. manufacturing sector. The Federal Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs are highly important to these small businesses in developing next-generation innovations for this sector. SBIR grants provide R&D funds to 38 percent of all scientists and engineers in the U.S. and help produce 7 patents/day. Small businesses receive only 4.3% of Federal R&D funds and is critical to their ongoing innovation. In this testimony the AIA recommends program reauthorization with some suggested improvements that can positively impact the aerospace sector and U.S. competitiveness.