Major Small Business Conference Returning In 2010

HARTFORD — Connecticut will host the National Small Business Innovation Research Conference next year.

Governor M. Jodi Rell’s office announced July 5 that the conference will take place April 21–23 at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. It will be held the second time in three years that Connecticut has hosted the event. The purpose of the conference is to encourage and promote technology exchange among start-up businesses.

Connecticut last hosted the conference in November 2008, and nearly 900 visitors from 46 countries attended.

Highlighting renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies, the 2009 National SBIR/STTR Conference in Reno, Nev., November 2–5 promises to bring together federal program administrators from all of the SBIR-participating federal agencies — US Department of Defense, Health and Human Services, Department of Energy, Department of Commerce, Department of Education, Department of Transportation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Small Business Association (SBA), Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Agriculture — as well as venture capital and angel investors, large companies, secondary market and traditional lenders, researchers, university and federal laboratory representatives and other experts who provide assistance to or are interested in doing business with early-stage and advanced-stage ventures.

Visitors to the 2009 conference can:

•Attend sessions that provide a comprehensive overview on how to apply for and win government SBIR/STTR grants.

•Listen to high-level guest speakers, government officials, and top industry leaders.

•Learn how to market high-risk ventures to companies looking to outsource their innovative needs.

•Meet with high-tech companies and research facilities on exhibition.

•Hear about the successes of companies that have commercialized their products through SBIR/STTR.

•Network with individuals from all phases of the process: research, development, and commercialization.

According to an SBIR release, despite challenging times for the global economy, the energy industry is thriving as federal agencies and investors seek out technologies and opportunities with promising futures. In the coming decades, the five pillars of clean energy — solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass technologies — are intended to form the cornerstone of many US economies.

Federal agencies come to the conference seeking inventive entrepreneurs to help with research and development, including research and development related to energy. Gov Rell said the state is honored to host the conference for the second time in three years, and that the 2010 event will provide opportunities for small businesses to “turn their technologies into global, market-driven products.”

Associated Press content was used in this report.