Federal Research: Interim Report on the Small Business Innovation
Research Program (Testimony, 04/06/95, GAO/T-RCED-95-154).

To compete successfully in a global economy, the United States depends
heavily on technological innovation through research and development.
Because small business is seen as a principal source of innovation, the
Small Business Innovation Development program was established in 1982 to
strengthen the research and development role of small, innovative
companies.  Congress reauthorized the program in 1992 and will have
doubled the program's funding by fiscal year 1997.  GAO testified that
so far, the quality of the research proposals appears to have kept pace
with the program's expansion.  It is too soon, however, to make a
conclusive judgement about the long-term quality of research proposals
because the major increases in program funding have not yet occurred.
None of the five agencies the provide more than 90 percent of program
funding has implemented the provision dealing with technical assistance,
and future implementation remains uncertain.  Duplicative funding has
become a problem.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  T-RCED-95-154
     TITLE:  Federal Research: Interim Report on the Small Business 
             Innovation Research Program
      DATE:  04/06/95
   SUBJECT:  Technical assistance
             Research programs
             Research program management
             Federal agencies
             Research grants
             Small business assistance
             Research and development
             Research and development costs
IDENTIFIER:  Small Business Innovation Research Program
             
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