(NIST: Gaithersburg, MD) -- The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a nonregulatory agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, has announced the fiscal year 2019 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I Notice of Funding Opportunity. The program encourages domestic small businesses to engage in federal research and development that has the potential for commercialization. 

The mission of the federal SBIR program is to “support scientific excellence and technological innovation through the investment of federal research funds in critical American priorities to build a strong national economy.” This year, NIST has expanded the scope of this mission by broadening research topic areas rather than requesting very specific technology solutions. The goal is to encourage more small businesses to participate and allow for greater innovation and creativity.  

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