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SBIR mills and the U.S. Department of Defense

Author

Listed:
  • Albert N. Link

    (University of North Carolina at Greensboro)

  • Christopher A. Swann

    (University of North Carolina at Greensboro)

Abstract

Multiple winners of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) awards have come under scrutiny by some in the public sector who claim that so-called SBIR mills fail to commercialize from their funded research. We examine this issue using data on a sample of SBIR awards awarded between 1992 and 2001. Consistent with the critique, we find a negative association between the overall number of previous SBIR awards and commercialization from a current SBIR-funded project. However, when we consider the number of previous SBIR awards related to the current project’s technology, we find a positive association thus suggesting previous technologically related awards increase the probability of commercialization. We extend the analysis beyond commercialization to patents and scientific publications related to the current award and find similar patterns of results. Our results also reinforce the finding of others that multiple SBIR awards are a heterogeneous metric.

Suggested Citation

  • Albert N. Link & Christopher A. Swann, 2024. "SBIR mills and the U.S. Department of Defense," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(6), pages 2306-2335, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jtecht:v:49:y:2024:i:6:d:10.1007_s10961-024-10144-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s10961-024-10144-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Albert N. Link & John T. Scott, 2013. "Governments as entrepreneur: Evaluating the commercialization success of SBIR projects," Chapters, in: Public Support of Innovation in Entrepreneurial Firms, chapter 2, pages 25-38, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    2. Albert N. Link & John T. Scott, 2013. "Private Investor Participation and Commercialization Rates for Government-sponsored Research and Development: Would a Prediction Market Improve the Performance of the SBIR Programme?," Chapters, in: Public Support of Innovation in Entrepreneurial Firms, chapter 11, pages 157-174, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    3. Albert N. Link & John T. Scott, 2013. "Employment growth from public support of innovation in small firms," Chapters, in: Public Support of Innovation in Entrepreneurial Firms, chapter 3, pages 41-64, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    4. Albert N. Link & John T. Scott, 2013. "Employment growth from the Small Business Innovation Research program," Chapters, in: Public Support of Innovation in Entrepreneurial Firms, chapter 4, pages 65-88, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    5. Le Grand, Julian, 1991. "The Theory of Government Failure," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 21(4), pages 423-442, October.
    6. Datta-Chaudhuri, Mrinal, 1990. "Market Failure and Government Failure," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 4(3), pages 25-39, Summer.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Small business innovation research (SBIR) program; SBIR mills; Multiple awards; Commercialization; Patents; Scientific publications;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O22 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy - - - Project Analysis
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy

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