The Air Force recently completed a comprehensive study on the SBIR/STTR Program and the economic outcomes and impacts of all Air Force Phase II SBIR and STTR contracts from 2000 to 2013 in order to quantify the Air Force SBIR/STTR Program’s overall contribution to the national economy and nation’s defense mission. Among other findings, the study showed 58% of USAF Phase II contracts resulted in the sales of new products or services based on the technology developed by those contracts. In addition, sales of AF SBIR products are over 300% more that the SBIR award dollars, $1.9 billion of new investment funds, 447 mergers with large firms, 180 licenses and 125 new spin-out companies were created to commercialize Air Force SBIR technology.
This study shows in clear dollar figures just how valuable the SBIR program is to the Air Force, as well as to small high-tech businesses and other agencies. Few, if any innovation or procurement programs can boast the kind of return on investment that SBIR has repeatedly demonstrated to show
USAF SBIR/STTR Economic Impact Study 2015