The Council of State Bioscience Associations (CSBA) is a coalition of independent state and territory based non-profit trade associations, each of which advocates for public policies that support responsible development and delivery of innovative life-sustaining and life-saving biotechnology solutions. We write to strongly urge you to support and pass an extension of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.
The majority of CSBA’s member companies are research-intensive small and large biotechnology companies working on cutting-edge innovations. Most of these are pre-revenue human health companies that take enormous risks to develop the next generation of biomedical breakthroughs. Their pipelines have the potential to benefit millions of patients suffering from diseases for which there are no cures or treatments. Our companies are at the center of Congress’ goal to strengthen American competitiveness and SBIR/STTR is a critical component to ensure the United States remains the leader in health advancement.
The SBIR/STTR Programs are currently set to expire on September 30, 2025. It would be damaging to American innovation and competitiveness if these programs were to expire. Therefore, the CSBA respectfully requests that you pass an extension of the SBIR/STTR programs prior to the September 30 expiration.
A lapse in SBIR/STTR funding would deal a serious blow to American innovation and small business job creation. Since 1982, these programs have been the largest source of early-stage capital for R&D-driven startups developing life-saving therapies. Even a short-term disruption could significantly harm the high-tech ecosystem and jeopardize critical biomedical progress. Federal agencies could also see their research and technology development stalled by a disruption in these programs. Both small businesses and the agencies need certainty, stability, and predictability to budget and plan for the future.
In addition, over 28 states currently supplement federal SBIR funds with state funds through SBIR matching-grant programs. These state programs are successful in attracting partners and investors needed to bring a biomedical innovation from the laboratory to the market. These funds also leverage new partnerships with a variety of stakeholders including academic research communities, private research foundations, and venture funders, who are all focused on generating increased synergies among other businesses in those states.
Therefore, the CSBA respectfully requests that you pass an extension of the SBIR/STTR programs prior to the September 30 expiration. This extension will give Congress the time it needs to develop and pass a comprehensive reauthorization bill for SBIR and STTR, one that includes needed changes and improvements. It will also give both small businesses and federal agencies certainty that these vital programs will not expire or be disrupted.
Thank you for your consideration. Please contact CSBA Executive Director, Patrick Plues, at
pplues@bio.org with any questions. Sincerely,
AR- BIOArkansas AZ- Arizona Bioindustry Association, Inc. (AZBio) CA- Biocom California CA- Southern California Biomedical Council CA- California Life Sciences CO- Colorado BioScience Association CT- BioCT DE- Delaware BioScience Association FL- BioFlorida GA- Georgia Life Sciences IA- Iowa Biotechnology Association ID- Idaho Technology Council IL- Illinois Biotechnology Innovation Organization IN- Indiana Life Sciences Association KS- AdAstra BIO KY- Kentucky Life Sciences Council LA- Louisiana BIO MA- MassBio MD- Maryland Tech Council ME- Bioscience Association of Maine (BioME) MI- Michigan Biosciences Industry Association (MichBio) MN- Medical Alley MO- Missouri Biotechnology Association (MOBIO) MT- Montana Bioscience Alliance NC- NC Life Sciences Organization ND- Bioscience Association of North Dakota NE- Bio Nebraska NH- NH Life Sciences (NHLS) NJ- BioNJ NM- New Mexico Biotechnology & Biomedical Association NV- Nevada Biotechnology & Health Science Consortium NY- NewYorkBIO OH- Ohio Life Sciences Association OK- Life Science Oklahoma OR- Oregon Bioscience Association PA- Life Sciences PA PR- INDUNIV Research Center Inc. RI- RI Bio SC- SCbio SD- South Dakota Biotech TN- Life Science Tennessee TX- Texas Healthcare & Bioscience Institute UT- BioUtah VA- Virginia Bio WA- Life Science Washington WI- BioForward Wisconsin WV- Bioscience Association of West Virginia
The Council of State Bioscience Associations (CSBA) is a coalition of independent state and territory-based non-profit trade associations, each of which advocates for public policies that support responsible development and delivery of innovative…
Dear Majority Leader Thune, Minority Leader Schumer, Speaker Johnson, and Minority Leader Jeffries:
The Council of State Bioscience Associations (CSBA) is a coalition of independent state and territory based non-profit trade associations, each of which advocates for public policies that support responsible development and delivery of innovative life-sustaining and life-saving biotechnology solutions. We write to strongly urge you to support and pass an extension of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.
The majority of CSBA’s member companies are research-intensive small and large biotechnology companies working on cutting-edge innovations. Most of these are pre-revenue human health companies that take enormous risks to develop the next generation of biomedical breakthroughs. Their pipelines have the potential to benefit millions of patients suffering from diseases for which there are no cures or treatments. Our companies are at the center of Congress’ goal to strengthen American competitiveness and SBIR/STTR is a critical component to ensure the United States remains the leader in health advancement.
The SBIR/STTR Programs are currently set to expire on September 30, 2025. It would be damaging to American innovation and competitiveness if these programs were to expire. Therefore, the CSBA respectfully requests that you pass an extension of the SBIR/STTR programs prior to the September 30 expiration.
A lapse in SBIR/STTR funding would deal a serious blow to American innovation and small business job creation. Since 1982, these programs have been the largest source of early-stage capital for R&D-driven startups developing life-saving therapies. Even a short-term disruption could significantly harm the high-tech ecosystem and jeopardize critical biomedical progress. Federal agencies could also see their research and technology development stalled by a disruption in these programs. Both small businesses and the agencies need certainty, stability, and predictability to budget and plan for the future.
In addition, over 28 states currently supplement federal SBIR funds with state funds through SBIR matching-grant programs. These state programs are successful in attracting partners and investors needed to bring a biomedical innovation from the laboratory to the market. These funds also leverage new partnerships with a variety of stakeholders including academic research communities, private research foundations, and venture funders, who are all focused on generating increased synergies among other businesses in those states.
Therefore, the CSBA respectfully requests that you pass an extension of the SBIR/STTR programs prior to the September 30 expiration. This extension will give Congress the time it needs to develop and pass a comprehensive reauthorization bill for SBIR and STTR, one that includes needed changes and improvements. It will also give both small businesses and federal agencies certainty that these vital programs will not expire or be disrupted.
Thank you for your consideration. Please contact CSBA Executive Director, Patrick Plues, at
pplues@bio.org with any questions. Sincerely,
AR- BIOArkansas
AZ- Arizona Bioindustry Association, Inc. (AZBio) CA- Biocom California
CA- Southern California Biomedical Council
CA- California Life Sciences
CO- Colorado BioScience Association
CT- BioCT
DE- Delaware BioScience Association
FL- BioFlorida
GA- Georgia Life Sciences
IA- Iowa Biotechnology Association
ID- Idaho Technology Council
IL- Illinois Biotechnology Innovation Organization IN- Indiana Life Sciences Association
KS- AdAstra BIO
KY- Kentucky Life Sciences Council
LA- Louisiana BIO
MA- MassBio
MD- Maryland Tech Council
ME- Bioscience Association of Maine (BioME)
MI- Michigan Biosciences Industry Association (MichBio) MN- Medical Alley
MO- Missouri Biotechnology Association (MOBIO)
MT- Montana Bioscience Alliance
NC- NC Life Sciences Organization
ND- Bioscience Association of North Dakota
NE- Bio Nebraska
NH- NH Life Sciences (NHLS)
NJ- BioNJ
NM- New Mexico Biotechnology & Biomedical Association NV- Nevada Biotechnology & Health Science Consortium NY- NewYorkBIO
OH- Ohio Life Sciences Association
OK- Life Science Oklahoma
OR- Oregon Bioscience Association
PA- Life Sciences PA
PR- INDUNIV Research Center Inc.
RI- RI Bio
SC- SCbio
SD- South Dakota Biotech
TN- Life Science Tennessee
TX- Texas Healthcare & Bioscience Institute
UT- BioUtah
VA- Virginia Bio
WA- Life Science Washington
WI- BioForward Wisconsin
WV- Bioscience Association of West Virginia