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Small Business Research Initiative

What is it?

The Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) is a procurement programme. Government Departments buy research and development services, helping to bring new technologies to market and leading to the possibility of future commercial procurement in the public sector.

The process starts with a government department or other public body identifying a specific challenge. This is then turned into an open competition for new technologies and ideas that is open to the broad business community.

Developments are 100% funded and suppliers retain the IPR generated from the project, with certain rights of use retained by the contracting Department.

Who is it for?

SBRI is aimed at businesses working on the development of an innovative process, material, device, product or service. Successful businesses will be those whose technology addresses specific needs identified in the competitions, and could make a measurable improvement to what is currently being procured by the target government department.

SBRI projects are intended to achieve major milestones on the route to commercialisation, including prototyping and demonstration, and to be particularly helpful to early stage companies.

How to apply

You can find out about current competitions at the SBRI website. General enquiries about the SBRI programme can be directed to email sbri@tsb.gov.uk.

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