MORGANTOWN -- Researchers and technologists from small, high-tech and innovative businesses from several states are scheduled to attend the 2009 Mid-Atlantic SBIR/STTR Conference Nov. 30-Dec. 2 at the Waterfront Hotel in Morgantown.

Organizers said the event will be the first West Virginia conference that focuses on the two nationally competitive U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) programs — Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR).

Event organizers said the SBIR and STTR programs award more than $2.5 billion to small, high-tech businesses. Eleven federal agencies participate in the SBIR program, while five federal agencies participate in the STTR program.

INNOVA Commercialization Group, an initiative of the West Virginia High Technology Consortium (WVHTC) Foundation, and the West Virginia Development Office are hosting the event.

“We are excited to be hosting the first SBIR/STTR conference to be held in West Virginia,” said Guy Peduto, director of INNOVA. “Participants from several states will take part in this conference, which will see presentations by and interaction with federal agencies, collaboration by attendees and opportunities to match people with resources to obtain federal research and tech transfer dollars.”

Organizers said the 2009 Mid-Atlantic SBIR/STTR Conference is intended to bring together key technology and acquisition personnel from government and industry to enable the transition of SBIR- and STTR-funded research and development into products for government and private sector commercial markets.

West Virginia Department of Commerce Cabinet Secretary Kelley Goes, who oversees the West Virginia Development Office, said the two programs and the conference represent opportunities for this and other states.

“Today’s high-tech entrepreneurs must innovate and commercialize to compete globally. This is a pivotal moment for the state to host the SBIR/STTR conference and nurture our high tech businesses,” Goes said.

“West Virginia’s ‘Bucks for Brains’ program helps university research programs hire national talent and was a first step to fostering technology-based economic development. Other ingredients include technology transfer, demonstrations and venture capital that lead to new products, companies and jobs. That’s where SBIR and STTR come in.

“These will be new jobs and good jobs for West Virginia and our region. This investment diversifies the economy, while nourishing the current industry base with innovation,” Goes said. Event organizers said information is available on the conference Web site at www.midatlanticsbir.com.

Event organizers said several states have indicated strong interest in attending the conference, and a number of federal agencies have already confirmed participation in the form of providing SBIR program managers to speak about their respective programs.

“We are extremely happy with the feedback we have received from federal agencies and from SBIR contacts in a number of states,” Peduto said. “We are putting together a strong agenda that will blend federal agency expertise and experience with valuable information from experts.”