Welcome to the Small Business Innovation Research Program!

The Montana Small Business Innovative Research Program (SBIR) located at the Montana Department of Commerce helps Montana companies compete for more than one billion dollars in federal grants that have been earmarked to fund research and development. Prior to the creation of the SBIR Rural Outreach Program, businesses in rural states like Montana competed very poorly for SBIR funding at the national level. Recognizing the need to help Montana businesses compete more effectively, the Department of Commerce created the SBIR outreach program in 1999. In 2000, twenty-four (24) Montana companies won more than $5 million dollars in grants and in 2001 thirty-five (35) companies captured more than $11 million dollars.

Montana's SBIR Program offers free counseling assistance to any individual or small business that wants to explore SBIR grant opportunities.

To win a Small Business Innovative Research grant, a business owner must have an innovative idea and the savvy to compete and win in the competitive federal arena of the SBIR Program. The team of experts working with the Montana Department of Commerce includes past SBIR award winners, winning multiple awards, so they know what it takes for you to compete and win at the national level. You have to be good because only 1 in 10 proposals win.

The SBIR Outreach program offers free counseling services to any individual or company that wants to investigate a SBIR grant.

SBIR Resources