Biotech seedlings flourish with SBIR grants

Bay Area biotech entrepreneurs working in their nascent ventures are turning to two long-running federal grant programs designed to spur research by small businesses.
Small Business Innovation Research, which debuted in 1982, and the Small Business Technology Transfer Program, which was modeled after the SBIR when it was created in 1992, provide grants for research that targets a specific product or commercial application. The grants are made through 11 participating government agencies.
The programs’ supporters argue that the grants are financing innovation and job creation at a time both are sorely needed.