I am very thankful to everyone who all supported me, for I have completed my project effectively and moreover on time.

I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my teacher___________ as well as our principal _________who gave me the golden opportunity to do this wonderful project on the topic__________, which also helped me in doing a lot of Research and I came to know about so many new things. Last but not the least, I would like to thank my parents who helped me a lot in gathering different information, collecting data and guiding me from time to time in making this project .despite of their busy schedules ,they gave me different ideas in making this project unique. I am making this project not only for marks but to also increase my knowledge. Thanking you name class-sec

Preface and Acknowledgements

This document provides an initial version of the methodological approaches to be taken in the Congressionally-mandated study of the SBIR program at the five agencies accounting for 96 percent of the SBIR program expenditures.1 The proposed methodology draws extensively on the methodologies developed for the review of the previous NRC assessment of the SBIR at the Department of Defense, SBIR: An Assessment of the Department of Defense Fast Track Initiative. 2 While this previous experience has provided a valuable point of departure, the methodologies proposed here reflect a new effort to determine the best means of assessing the SBIR program. The methodology, developed by the National Academies' Research Team and approved by the Committee, is the result of many months' work by the Research Team in consultation with private sector participants, congressional staff, and program managers. Indeed, the proposed methodology has benefited from substantial input of senior staff from the five agencies involved in the study. The agency contributions have been particularly important, providing a collegial environment for the analysis of one of the nation's most significant programs for early-stage finance for small firms. Through the two public symposia and multiple private meetings, agency managers have provided valuable expertise and insights into the diverse goals and operations of the program. Indeed many agency representatives have come to see the study as a useful vehicle for assessing the mechanics and outcomes of their SBIR programs, and as a means of benchmarking their own policies and procedures. This report has been reviewed in draft form by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the NRC's Report Review Committee. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the institution in making its published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We wish to thank the following individuals for their review of this report: John Bailar III, University of Chicago; Anthony DeMaria, Coherent DEOS; Irwin Feller, Pennsylvania State University; Fred Gault, Statistics Canada; Mary Good, Venture Capital Investors, LLC; Stephen Kohashi, Department of Housing and Urban Development; Peter Moulton, Q-Peak Inc.; Roger Noll, Stanford University; Maxine Savitz, Honeywell, Inc. (Ret.); Todd Watkins, Lehigh University; Richard Wright, III, National Institute of Standards and Technology (Ret.); and Leo Young, Department of Defense (Ret.). Although the reviewers listed above have provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse the conclusions or recommendations, nor did they see the final draft of the report before its release. The review of this report was overseen by Lewis Branscomb, Harvard University, and Robert White, Carnegie Mellon University. Appointed by the National Research Council, they were responsible for making certain that an independent examination of this report was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of this report rests entirely with the authoring committee and the institution.