[sleighboy]

After years of inside experience with SBIR applicants and the various agencies I can say confidently that is largely a sham to funnel money to those who make friendships and scratch the backs of the various agency heads and their underlings. Also, the things I saw regarding how the agencies and their contacts exchange private data were frightening. People talk about the "deep state" of unelected bureaucrats. It doesn't have to be some grand plan to exert great power. These programs are robbing taxpayers to enrich a small clique with self-serving goals, returning little of value. The Idaho company of "solar freaking roadways" fame is an SBIR boondoggle, that should tell you something, and I think they made it to Phase II.

[sdinsn]

I think you are exaggerating. The goal of SBIRs is to fund high risk research. Solar roadways are high risk; even if it fails completely it's not like a lot of money is wasted, and something valuable is still learned.

Qualcomm was the result of SBIRs, for example.

[therobot24]

this has not been my experience with SBIRs