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Tech Track                            Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013
In This Issue
Fauxsee Innovations Wins NSF SBIR Phase IB Grant
Homeland Security Issues SBIR Pre-Solicitation
1 Million Cups: Learn How to "Caffeinate Your Community"
NASA and NOAA Seek SBIR Proposals
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Researchers
 

NCET2 Webinar:

Protecting IP in Key Foreign Markets

 

Thursday, Dec. 12

12-1:30 p.m. CST 

Cost: Free, but registration required
 
This National Council of Entrepreneurial Tech Transfer (NCET2) webinar will help to bridge the knowledge gap in intellectual property law issues between the U.S. Government and various stakeholders. Thought leaders in the field will address various IP issues from their experienced viewpoints. 

Participants can expect to understand and retain best practices for developing their IP strategies in ways that allow for continued business and technology development.

 

Tech Track is published every two weeks by the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center. ASBTDC serves new and existing innovation-based small businesses in Arkansas through business consulting, training, and market research.
501.683.7700

 



 
Fauxsee Innovations Wins NSF SBIR Phase IB Grant 

 

Fauxsee Innovations, a Magnolia-based Arkansas company, was selected for a Phase IB grant award of $15,000 through the National Science Foundation that will allow the company to continue development of its Roboglasses� device to improve navigation and reduce upper-body injury among the sight-impaired. 

 
A recent study by the University of Santa Cruz indicated that more than 46% of the 11.4 million visually impaired people in America experience head injury while in motion at least once a month, with 23% of these injuries requiring medical attention. Fauxsee Innovations' Roboglasses� device will allow sight-impaired individuals to detect obstacles in their upper-body pathway that cannot currently be detected by guide dogs or walking canes.
 
Currently, Fauxsee Innovations is performing on the last month of a NSF Small Business Innovation Research Phase I award to design, develop, evaluate and specify Roboglasses�. Timothy Zigler, vice president of Fauxsee Innovations, said, "Our NSF SBIR Phase I award allowed us to prove that the Roboglasses� theory and concept works."

 

Brandon Foshee, CEO and president of Fauxsee Innovations, said the latest award "will allow us to further refine our prototype from what we call the 'carryable' version to the 'wearable' version. In other words, it will help us to miniaturize our prototype." Zigler also noted, "It is very important to keep our engineers and team members busy between Phase I and II awards. Without it, I am afraid that the team would lose the valuable momentum that Phase I has given our company." 
 
Fauxsee Innovations received support from the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center and Enable Ventures with the development of its NSF Phase IB proposal, as well as an Arkansas Science and Technology Authority Technology Transfer Assistance Grant.
 
When asked if he had advice for other NSF SBIR awardees who may want to pursue Phase IB funding, Zigler said, "There are no 'cons' to the NSF Phase IB program, but be prepared to put your head down and work for it, and that goes for the entire NSF SBIR program. It is a lot of work and it is work that comes at a time in your business when there is plenty else to do, but the program is so valuable to the survival of a small business like ours." 
 
Foshee noted, "If you are considering applying for Phase IB funding, Rebecca Norman at ASBTDC is a wonderful resource." 
 

Homeland Security Issues SBIR Pre-Solicitation 

  

Innovative Arkansas businesses are encouraged to explore funding opportunities within the Department of Homeland Security's Small business Innovation Research pre-solicitation. 


This solicitation includes seven topic descriptions that outline the technical areas in which the DHS Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate and DHS Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) SBIR programs request proposals under the FY14.1 solicitation.

 

DHS SBIR Phase I awards generally have a period of performance of six months and don't exceed awards of $100,000. 

 

During the pre-solicitation period (Dec. 3-17), potential applicants will have the opportunity to contact the Technical Program Manager to ask technical questions regarding their topic areas. The full solicitation will be released on Dec.17. 
   

Review the full DHS SBIR presolicitation

1 Million Cups

 

Are you an entrepreneur interested in engaging other entrepreneurs in communities around the world? One Million Cups (1MC) is a program run by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs. Each week, 1MC offers two local entrepreneurs an opportunity to present their startups to a diverse audience of mentors, advisors and entrepreneurs.
 
The 1MC program takes place every Wednesday from 9-10 a.m. in coffee shops and other convenient locations for entrepreneurs throughout the country.
 

NASA and NOAA Seek SBIR Proposals

 

Research-based small businesses and their partners are encouraged to explore open funding opportunities within the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

 

NASA has released its FY 2014 Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer solicitation. Responsive Phase I applications are due by Jan. 29. 

 

Companies that are looking for a partner for a NASA STTR Phase I project can use the SBIR Gateway NASA 2014 STTR Partnering Site. 

 

Phase I proposals are also due by Jan. 29 for NOAA's FY 2014 SBIR solicitation. 

  

For assistance with the preparation of your SBIR or STTR proposal application, contact Rebecca Norman at [email protected], 501.683.7700 or 800.862.2040. 

 

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Nano Center's Newsletter 

 

Interested in learning about what goes on at the UALR Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences? Subscribe to CINS' free "Notes on Nanotechnology" newsletter by visiting the center's website and signing up on the lower right side of the page.
                                UALR College of Business        U.S. Small Business Administration   
The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration through a partnership with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock College of Business and other institutions of higher education. All opinions, conclusions, or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. UALR is committed to the policy of providing equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate in employment, admissions, programs, or any other educational functions and services on the basis of sex, age, disability, race, and national origin, color or religion.