Release Date: April 22, 2008
Contact: Jennifer Crews (850.473.7807 or jcrews@uwf.edu)
www.sbirflorida.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



NASA Deputy Administrator to Speak at
2008 SBIR/STTR National Spring Conference in Orlando

 

Shana L. Dale 		Pensacola, FL: NASA Deputy Administrator, The Honorable Shana L. Dale, will deliver the keynote address, detailing the future course of NASA’s space program, on Wednesday, May 28, at the 2008 National Small Business Innovative Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Conference that will be convened at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando.

During her address, Deputy Administrator Dale will share NASA’s new vision and explain the dramatic mission changes that NASA will be making to its space program to enable the United States to stay at the forefront of space exploration. While describing future missions, she will give insight into the innovative products and services NASA will need to support the nation’s next round of space exploration.  


On Wednesday afternoon, a panel of NASA experts will drill down further, providing attendees with detailed examples of NASA’s future technology and bioscience needs, as they plan for Constellation, NASA’s next generation of space craft; the next round of manned space missions to the moon and Mars; and other future robotics and science missions.      

The 2008 SBIR/STTR National Spring Conference, co-hosted by NASA, the Florida SBDC Network and the Florida Small Business Development Foundation, celebrates the 25th Anniversary of the SBIR Program and 50 Years of NASA Space Exploration. It brings together federal program administrators from the 11 SBIR participating agencies, investors, lenders, university and federal laboratory representatives, prime contractors and others who provide assistance to early-stage ventures. A $2.2 Billion appropriation is set aside for the SBIR program this year. Eligible small businesses may compete for Phase I SBIR and STTR grants and contracts of up to $100,000 to undertake a feasibility analysis on their idea. Phase II awards of up to $750,000 or more, which may be awarded to successful applicants to validate their research.

Visit www.sbirflorida.org to register for the conference and for more information, and/or contact Jennifer Crews (850.473.7807) or Lew Attardo (850.473.7805), or email at jcrews@uwf.edu or lattardo@uwf.edu. The early bird Registration Fee of $325 has been extended and the hotel rooms are guaranteed through April 26.

The Florida Small Business Development Center Network is a statewide partnership between higher education and economic development organizations dedicated to providing emerging and established business owners with assistance enabling overall growth and increased profitability that contributes to the economic prosperity of the state. For more information about the FSBDCN, call 1.866.737.7232 or visit our website at www.FloridaSBDC.org.

The FSBDCN is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. SBA.