Roland Tibbetts began the SBIR program as a tiny experimental project at the National Science Foundation. Today, the SBIR program has developed more than $21 billion worth of research by more than 15,000 firms -- resulting in more than 45,000 patents. SBIR companies employ more than 400,000 scientists and engineers -- making the program the largest concentration of scientific and engineering talent in the United States, exceeding the combined total of all American academic and non-profit institutions. Each year, 11 federal agencies award $2 billion in research contracts as part of the SBIR program.

Named for Roland Tibbetts, the person acknowledged as the father of the SBIR program, these prestigious, national awards are made annually to those small firms, projects, organizations and individuals judged to exemplify the very best in SBIR achievement.

The emphasis is on recognizing those accomplishments where, in the judgement of those closely involved and often most immediately affected, the stimulus of SBIR funding has made an important and definable difference.

In selection for Tibbetts Awards, the focus is primarily on:

• Economic impact of technological innovation
• Business achievement and effective collaborations
• Demonstrated state and regional impact and proven support

Tibbetts Awards: An initiative of the non-profit Small Business Technology Council (SBTC) with support from NASA, NSF, DoD, Department of the Navy, DARPA, Boeing, The Association for Manufacturing Technology, Gregg Olson, ATF, Homeland Venture, RDM, and Physical Sciences, Inc. Additional sponsors are pending and other sponsors are welcome.