Policy Positions

 

Innovation does not happen by accident. It happens when communities, entrepreneurs, researchers, and policymakers work together to turn ideas into impact. That is why Congress must act quickly to reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.

 

These bipartisan programs have long been one of the most effective tools the federal government has to move breakthrough ideas from lab benches into the marketplace. They fuel startups, support commercialization, strengthen national competitiveness, and ensure innovation happens not just on the coasts, but in communities across the country.

 

Here in Topeka, Kansas, we see the value of SBIR and STTR firsthand.

 

In February, GO Topeka will cut the ribbon on the $15 million LINK Innovation Center in downtown Topeka, a project built to accelerate entrepreneurship, support high-growth companies, and connect local talent to national and global innovation networks. LINK will be home to Plug and Play Topeka, working to bring the world’s leading animal health and ag-tech startups to our community.

 

These investments reflect a simple truth: innovation ecosystems thrive when federal policy aligns with local momentum.

 

“SBIR and STTR are often the first real source of capital for science- and technology-driven startups,” said Stephanie Moran, Senior Vice President of Innovation for GO Topeka. “As we open the LINK Innovation Center and partner with Plug and Play Topeka, access to these programs will be critical for helping founders move from prototype to product and from idea to impact. Reauthorizing SBIR and STTR sends a clear signal that Congress understands how innovation actually happens in communities like ours.”

 

At a time when global competition for talent and technology is intensifying, the stakes could not be higher. SBIR and STTR ensure that small businesses, universities, and research institutions can collaborate, innovate, and commercialize new solutions in fields ranging from advanced manufacturing and aerospace to healthcare, energy, and national security.

 

The urgency is real.

 

As of mid-January, Senators Edward Markey and Joni Ernst have exchanged bipartisan proposals to reach a compromise on reauthorization, but Congress has not yet voted. Meanwhile, more than 1,300 innovators from all 50 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico have signed a letter urging action, supported by over 400 real-world case studies demonstrating the programs’ impact.

 

With the possibility of another federal government shutdown approaching at the end of January, Congress must not allow SBIR and STTR to become collateral damage. Delays create uncertainty for entrepreneurs, stall commercialization efforts, and weaken the very pipeline that turns American ingenuity into economic growth.

 

For communities like Topeka, SBIR and STTR are not abstract federal programs. They are tools that help local startups attract capital, retain talent, and create high-quality jobs. They complement local investments, leverage private-sector partnerships, and ensure that innovation-led growth reaches the heartland.

 

As a Chamber of Commerce, our mission is to advocate for policies that help businesses start, grow, and succeed. Reauthorizing SBIR and STTR does exactly that.

 

Congress should act now to pass SBIR/STTR reauthorization and reaffirm America’s commitment to innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic opportunity in every region of the country.

 

The ideas are ready. The entrepreneurs are ready. Communities like Topeka are ready.

 

Now Congress must do its part.