Department Of Commerce

The SBIR/STTR Matching Funds Program assists technology-based Montana companies by providing additional funding that can be used for technology development or other uses during the time that the company is working on a Small Business Innovation Research or Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) project with a federal agency. This additional funding increases the likelihood that technology-based Montana companies will be able to develop products and services that can be successfully marketed.

The Federal SBIR/STTR Program provides for funding competitions in two phases that are relevant to the Montana Program: Phase I – to conduct feasibility research; and Phase II – to expand and develop Phase I results and develop commercially viable innovations. Grants of up to $30,000 per phase are available on a yearly basis. 

The Montana Department of Commerce (Department) administers the Montana SBIR/STTR Matching Funds Program in the manner set forth in the guidelines. In all cases, awards will be made at the discretion of the Department.

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What is the purpose of the Montana SBIR/STTR Matching Funds Program?
The purpose of the Montana SBIR/STTR Matching Funds Program is to foster job creation and economic development in the state by providing matching grants to eligible businesses meeting the criteria set forth in the application guidelines

What type of assistance does the Montana SBIR/STTR Matching Funds Program provide?
The program is a funding source for grants.

How can the funds be used?
Funds must be used to help the company complete the SBIR or STTR project or otherwise assist the company in the development of a product or service related to the federal SBIR or STTR award.

What is the application deadline?
Applications can be submitted at any time.

In order to receive a Stage 2 award, does the business had to receive a Stage 1 award?
Business must have received a Stage 1 award before they are eligible to apply for a Stage 2 award. Additionally, applications for a Stage 2 funding request must be received by the Department no later than 90 days after the scheduled end date of the Phase 1 project. See the guidelines for exceptions.

What are the reporting requirements?
Quarterly reports are required for the duration of the project and final report is due at the end of the project.

What is the funding source for the Montana SBIR/STTR Matching Funds Program?
The Montana Legislature appropriates a biannual appropriation to the Department of Commerce for the Program

Where is the statutory authorization found for the Montana SBIR/STTR Matching Funds Program?
90-1-117 through 90-1-119 MCA established the Montana SBIR/STTR Matching Funds Program.

Montana BioAgriculture, Inc.
MSMFP Stage 1 funds were awarded to Montana BioAgriculture Inc. to be used in conjunction with the completion of a National Institutes of Food and Agriculture Phase 1 project entitled, “Endophytic entomopathogenic fungi for control of wheat stem sawfly and Fusarium head blight". Montana BioAgriculture is working to develop naturally occurring fungi as commercial products to address the most important issues facing wheat and barley producers; drought, diseases such as Fusarium head blight and the wheat stem sawfly. 

Prime Labs, Inc.
MSMFP Stage 1 funds were awarded to Prime Labs Inc. to be used in conjunction with the completion of SAAD Based Mass Spectrometry Data Processing for Antibody Therapeutics for COVID-19 and Other Diseases. Prime Labs will devise or find and modify an algorithm for glycan structure prediction that enumerates possible structures given a specific mass.

Peak Protein, LLC
MSMFP Stage 1 funds were awarded to Peak Protein, LLC to be used in conjunction with the completion of Cricketein: Cricket Derived Protein Hydrolysates with Versatile Techno-functionalities and Bio-Activity for Food Ingredient Applications. Peak Protein is developing cricket protein hydrolysates for food and dietary quality and sensory acceptance.

Bravo 2 Whiskey, LLC
MSMFP Stage 1 funds were awarded to Bravo 2 Whiskey LLC to be used in conjunction with the completion of an Improved Flight Test Methods and Aviation Safety Using Artificial Intelligence. Bravo 2 Whiskey hopes to generated the concept of improving both flight test methods and aviation safety overall, using artificial intelligence (AI), specifically machine and deep learning.

Montana BioAgriculture, Inc.
MSMFP Stage 2 funds were awarded to Montana BioAgriculture, Inc. to be used in conjunction with the completion of a “Curvularia: Fungal Symbiosis For Drought Protection in Barley”. The goal is to develop C Protuberata to the point where Montana BioAgriculture can raise private capital to finance commercial production and marketing.

NWB Sensors, Inc.
MSMFP Stage 2 funds were awarded to NWB Sensors, Inc. to be used in conjunction with completion of a "Intelligent Mapping of the Farm Using Low-Cost, GPS-Enabled Cameras During Existing Farm Activities". Specifically, the funds will be used to conduct a grower study focused on organic growers. The research will develop dual-camera system; update data processing methods to handle dual camera imagery; and to deploy ruggedized system during summer 2021 harvest.

xD Bio, Inc.
MSMFP Stage 2 funds were awarded to xD Bio, Inc. to be used in conjunction with the completion of a “Integrated Web Interface For Cloud-based Computational Reproducibility Using the ENCODE Analysis Pipeline Architecture”. The funds will be utilized for commercialization activities such as marketing & branding, market research and developing a launch strategy.

Annmarie Robinson, Program Manager
Phone: 406.841.2250


PO Box 20050
301 S Park Avenue
Helena MT 59620-0505