trend
Technology Research and Development Center of Alaska

trend is a specialty center within the Alaska Small Business Development Center designed to support and promote Alaska small businesses in the research and development of new technology in Alaska. trend provides one-on-one assistance aimed at identifying a client's business assets and resources for taking a technology to market.

In 1994 the Alaska Small Business Development Center started the trend of small business research and development in Alaska when it created trend, the Technology Research and Development Center of Alaska to support and promote the innovation and commercialization of new technology in the last frontier.

Since trend was created, small business research and development activity has increased over 600% in Alaska.

trend serves as a centralized resource to assist small businesses in applying technology to commercial opportunities. This is accomplished through a comprehensive offering of services that include business counseling, workshops, access to technical information, assessment of technology, technical support referral to key resources and strategic planning.

SBIR/STTR Federal Grants

SBIR stands for Small Business Innovation Research and STTR stands for Small Business Technology Transfer. Basically, the SBIR and STTR programs represent a process through which federal agencies, such as the Department of Defense and the National Science Foundation, solicit small businesses to research and develop technology that is of interest or necessity to their agency and the nation.

SBIR and STTR are each three phase programs providing up to $850,000 of federal research and development funding for small businesses. Phase I projects provide up to $100,000 to test the scientific merit or feasibility of an idea. Phase II projects provide up to $750,000 for pilot testing and prototype development. Phase III SBIR/STTR projects are expected to attract private sector investment and result in the commercialization of new technology. trend helps Alaskan small businesses prepare and submit proposals to the SBIR and STTR Programs.

PHASE 0 Grants

In an effort to increase the number of SBIR proposals funded from Alaska, trend partners with the Experimental Program to Simulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) to offer an SBIR Phase 0 Program. The Alaska Phase 0 Program provides grants up to $5,000 to assist small businesses with SBIR/STTR proposal preparation.

Newsletter

trend's monthly electronic newsletter, the trend, highlights news about the center, its clients and the research and development community at large. It also provides SBIR coverage, an events calendar and University research and development spotlights.

Expert Network

trend's expert network, TrendNet, connects clients to a rich volunteer network of experts, mentors and service providers.

Workshops

trend workshops are not only educational activities, but also outreach events that both inform participants of, and prepare them for, research and development opportunities.

Sample workshops include:

• Introduction to SBIR
• SBIR Proposal Strategy
• Meet the Program Manager

Outreach

trend is a statewide program, available upon request to provide workshops and other services in communities around Alaska. trend is also available to co-host and organize conference events, speak to professional organizations and contribute copy to periodical publications.