Tag: SBIR

Foresight Awarded NSF SBIR Grant to Research Taste Masking Agent

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Foresight Science & Technology, Inc. (Foresight) has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant as part of a cooperative research development agreement (CRADA) with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, to conduct research and development (R&D) on an environmentally neutral product for control of red imported fire ants (RIFA). This project intends to establish a proof of concept for the use of taste masking agents that are already used in human and animal medications to mask the negative taste of an effective active ingredient for use in a pest ant bait station. The commercial impacts of the proposed activity will be to provide consumers and gardeners an effective, affordable, and environmentally responsible treatment for controlling RIFA as an alternative to existing chemical pesticides. The addressable market for the product is households and professional pest control service companies in the 14 infested states that currently use chemical pesticides to control RIFA, and additional households and service companies that would use bait stations if an organic solution was available.

“NSF is proud to support the technology of the future by thinking beyond incremental developments and funding the most creative, impactful ideas across all markets and areas of science and engineering,” said Andrea Belz, Division Director of the Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships at NSF. “With the support of our research funds, any deep technology startup or small business can guide basic science into meaningful solutions that address tremendous needs.”

“Foresight appreciates the support of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. As a long-time provider of commercialization services to SBIR funded companies, we recognize the importance of small businesses and their entrepreneurial efforts to bring innovative and important products and services to the marketplace. With funding from the NSF SBIR, Foresight is excited to be one of those small businesses.” – Norton Kaplan, Foresight Science & Technology President & COO

About the National Science Foundation’s Small Business Programs: NSF SBIR/STTR program, also known as America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF, awards $200 million annually to startups and small businesses, transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial and societal impact. Startups working across almost all areas of science and technology can receive up to $1.75 million to support R&D, helping de-risk technology for commercial success. The NSF is an independent federal agency with a budget of about $8.1 billion that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. Small businesses with innovative science and technology solutions, and commercial potential are encouraged to apply. All proposals submitted to the NSF SBIR/STTR program undergo a rigorous merit-based review process. To learn more about the program, visit: https://seedfund.nsf.gov/

For further information about this project, please contact Dan Satinsky, daniel.satinsky@foresightst.com.

Foresight Sponsors HHS Small Business Program Conference

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UPDATE: Due to the unfortunate cancellation of the HHS Small Business Program Conference, Foresight will no longer be in Las Vegas during the planned dates. Feel free to reach out to learn more about our TABA services! We look forward to seeing you at future SBIR/STTR events.

Are you a current HHS SBIR awardee or are interested in applying for HHS funding? The 21st Annual HHS Small Business Program Conference helps small businesses learn more about the approximate $1.1 billion dollars of annual HHS funding that is available to forge academic partnerships and build new businesses. This event is taking place April 27-29, 2021 in Las Vegas, NV.

As a long-time commercialization assistance provider for the NIH SBIR/STTR Program, we will be exhibiting at the conference, showcasing our Technical and Business Assistance services. Please be sure to come by our booth! We will also be available to meet with you one-on-one to discuss your commercialization objectives.

2019-2020 NIH Niche Assessment Program

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For HHS SBIR/STTR Phase I Awardees

THE APPLICATION PERIOD FOR THE 2019-2020 NIH NICHE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM IS NOW CLOSED

Additional Technical Assistance information will be available prior to Fall 2020.

 

The Niche Assessment Program is designed to help small businesses jump start their commercialization efforts. All active HHS (NIH, CDC, FDA) SBIR/STTR Phase I awardees and Phase I Fast-Track awardees (by grant or contract) are eligible to apply. Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis!

The Niche Assessment Program provided by Foresight Science & Technology provides awardees with market insight and data that can be used to help strategically position their technology in the marketplace, develop their commercialization plans for their Phase II application, and be exposed to potential partners.

Technology Niche Analyses® (TNA®) are provided by Foresight for two hundred (200) HHS SBIR/STTR Phase I awardees. These analyses assess potential applications for a technology and then for one viable application, it provides an assessment of the:

  1. Needs and concerns of end-users;
  2. Competing technologies and competing products;
  3. Competitive advantage of the SBIR/STTR-developed technology;
  4. Market size and potential market share (may include national and/or global markets);
  5. Barriers to market entry (may include but is not limited to pricing, competition, government regulations, manufacturing challenges, capital requirements, etc.);
  6. Market drivers;
  7. Status of market and industry trends;
  8. Potential customers, licensees, investors, or other commercialization partners; and,
  9. The price customers are likely to pay.

Each participant receives an in-depth report of Foresight’s findings. Oftentimes the small businesses can use this information in their commercialization plans which are part of their Phase II applications.

The analysis has three steps:

(1) In the first step, Foresight will gather the pertinent information needed from the SBIR/STTR awardee to identify feasible applications of the technology. Often times, several non-obvious uses are found, and such secondary applications may provide a path to market that is faster than the primary biomedical use.
(2) In the second step, Foresight will analyze the selected use of the technology to determine the end-user needs, current and emerging competing technologies, market dynamics, socio-economic trends and market drivers, and to quantify the market size and participant’s possible share. This second step determines the technology’s current competitive advantages and how to improve competitiveness.
(3) In the third step, Foresight will recommend a market entry strategy. This strategy includes how to market the technology to end-users, how to obtain outside partners, and also projects revenues for the technology. Likely lead customers, testing centers, suppliers, manufacturers, and/or other relevant organizations interested in participating in the downstream research as beta testers or concurrent engineering advisors will be identified.

 

For assistance regarding the online set-up form, please contact:
Ms. Paula Williams
Project Coordinator
Foresight Science & Technology
Telephone: (401) 273-4844, ext. 4001
Email:  Paula.Williams@foresightst.com

Specific questions about TNA’s may be directed to:
Konstantin Izvolsky, PhD.
Director of Consulting and Training
Foresight Science & Technology
Telephone: (401) 273-4844, ext. 4003
Email:  konstantin.izvolsky@foresightst.com

General questions about Niche Assessment Program may be directed to:
Robert Vinson 
Program Manager
NIH SBIR/STTR Program
Office of Extramural Programs
Phone: (301) 435-2713
Email:  sbir@od.nih.gov

Defense TechConnect & SBIR Fall Innovation Summit

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Foresight Science & Technology attended the SBIR/STTR Fall Innovation Summit co-located with Defense TechConnect in National Harbor, MD on October 9th, 2019. Foresight’s Director of Consulting, Dr. Konstantin Izvolsky, met with many companies interested in SBIR to answer questions about our Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) services. Looking for additional information on TABA? Visit: https://foresightst.com/sbir-taba/

Thinking Like “Shark Tank”

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Posted on April 1, 2019  By: Norton Kaplan

 

I suggest viewing “Shark Tank” https://abc.go.com/shows/shark-tank occasionally to pick up a few hints on how to evaluate and strategize business opportunities and entrepreneur tactics. Most importantly I suggest paying attention to the “Shark Tank” inventor panel members and their questions and comments. I find that each panel member typically focuses on specific pitch/company attributes. For example, I feel that Mark Cuban focuses on the people and resources relative to commitment and drive. Lori Greiner often inquiries about market dynamics and intellectual property. Kevin O’Leary looks for ROI and competition. John Daymond often focuses on supply chain and networking. The others have their own focus.

There is a lot of commonality in how “Shark Tank” is conducted and the work that Foresight does. Sometimes it is pointing out the “elephant in the room.” Highlighted in a Forbes article – “Five Reasons 8 Out Of 10 Businesses Fail” the number 1 reason is that they are Not really in touch with customers through deep dialogue and the number 2 reason is No real differentiation in the market (read: lack of unique value propositions). As Foresight moves forward as a leading commercialization consultancy we all need to look for the evolving needs of our customers and the markets that they are impacting. Foresight is addressing some of these changing needs with products/services like the new SMART Report and the new support program consulting for SBIR/STTR TABA. I look forward to your input on what you are seeing in the companies and markets that you support.

EPA SBIR Phase I Kick-Off Meeting

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On Thursday November 29, 2018 the EPA SBIR hosted their annual Phase I Kick-Off Meeting in Washington, DC, highlighting the 17 Small Businesses that have been awarded up to $100,000 each. The technologies being developed focus on environmental issues that affect air, soil and water quality as well as some health-related concerns. A listing of the companies and technologies may be found on the EPA SBIR website.

Presentations provided by April Richards, EPA SBIR Program Manager, Andrew Wheeler, EPA Acting Administrator, and others emphasized the importance of commercialization and the value of each of the companies participating. A Keynote Panel conducted a discussion on “Paths to Commercialization” as the theme of the meeting. Dr. Konstantin Izvolsky, E. Wayne Turnblom, and Norton Kaplan, all commercialization experts for Foresight Science & Technology provided one-on-one interviews with each awardee to drive the commercialization opportunities and to begin formulating market entry strategies. From beginning to end, the commercialization theme was the driving force – to not only keep pace with the growing economy but to also contribute to it in many varying and unique ways.

Pictured (left to right): Norton Kaplan, E.Wayne Turnblom, Dr. Konstantin Izvolsky