Now in its twentieth year, the Forum has been a long-standing venue for connecting SBIR/STTR-funded technologies with warfighters, government acquisition and technical personnel, large primes, system integrators, and other potential transition partners.
Navy leadership challenged us to deliver innovation to warfighters faster by exploring new collaborations with existing technology-focused events. The Navy SBIR/STTR Program Office is meeting this challenge through exciting academic and corporate partnerships. This year we are taking FST “on the road” to multiple events across the U.S.; our first one is with the Naval Submarine League's Annual Symposium. Follow on FST events will happen at NAVSEA HQ on the Washington Navy Yard in January 2020; WEST 2020 Conference in San Diego in March; and at AIAA's Aviation Forum in Reno, June 2020.
The Forum for SBIR/STTR Transition (FST) is a one-of-a-kind place to experience first-hand the future of the Navy and Marine Corps. Whether you see it in the exhibit spaces, hear it during a Tech Talk, or experience it during a 1-on-1 or networking event you'll see why we are focused on mobilizing a new generation of government, industry, and academic innovators.
FST, a key feature of the twenty-year-old Department of the Navy SBIR/STTR Transition Program (STP), was a long-standing Washington, DC conference fixture. In April 2019, the Navy SBIR/STTR Program office took FST “on the road” through a co-sponsorship arrangement with the University of Massachusetts Lowell Research Institute. DoN SBIR/STTR Program Office Director Robert L. Smith indicated they learned a lot from the trip to Lowell. “The Chief of Naval Research challenged us to get outside the beltway and foster new relationships to get innovation into the hands of our warfighters faster. I’m excited for our new STP/FST direction to advance Navy SBIR/STTR technology transition opportunities,” Smith said. Department of the Navy STP Program Manager Steven Sullivan elaborated on how the FST, commonly referred to as “the Forum,” continues to adapt its over-20-year history of helping STP small businesses uncover Phase III transition opportunities and commercialization success. “This [2019-2020 STP program] year we are exploring focused technology events to showcase our STP Phase II companies’ technologies and match them with the technology needs for both government and industry. Connecting requirements with solutions is the goal.”
The first FST Event is integrated into the Naval Submarine League's (NSL) Annual Symposium, November 6-7, 2019, at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport. Future FST events include NAVSEA FST Day, January 29, 2020; a very large presence at WEST 2020, March 2-3, 2020; and the AIAA Aviation Forum, June 15-19, 2020. Details on future events will be posted here in December 2019. Don’t forget to set up a 1-on-1 meeting at the NSL FST Event with one of our 10 participating small businesses in the Independence Exhibit Hall - sign up via email here.
Take a closer look at the SBIR/STTR Transition Program technologies in the Virtual Transition Marketplace (VTM). Search current and past year FST participants to find the technology that interests you.
