NIH Niche Assessment Program
NIH Niche Assessment Program for Phase I Awardees
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Niche Assessment Program for HHS (NIH, CDC, FDA) is a nationwide program funded by NIH to help jump-start the commercialization efforts of active SBIR & STTR Phase I awardees and Phase I Fast-Track awardees. NIH has contracted with Foresight Science and Technology to perform Technology Niche Analyses® (TNA®) for 177 HHS SBIR & STTR Phase I awardees.
STTR awardees are eligible to participate in this program.
The NIH Niche Assessment Program can help your company's commercialization efforts by:
- Providing market insight and data to strategically position your technology in the marketplace.
- Assisting in commercialization plan development for Phase II applications.
- Introducing small businesses to potential partners.
- For a full description of the program, please review the NIH Guide Notice at: NOT-OD-16-013.
To participate in the program, complete the registration form.
For assistance with submitting the on-line Set-Up Form please contact:
Eligibility Requirements
All active HHS (NIH,CDC, FDA) SBIR/STTR Phase I awardees and Phase I Fast-Track awardees (by grant or contract) are eligible to apply.
The Niche Assessment Program is appropriate for all types of technologies, (e.g., those developing clinical products, as well as those developing software, educational, and multi-media behavioral science products). The program is also appropriate for those seeking strategic alliances, investors, and/or immediate customers.
One hundred seventy seven (177) slots are available and will be filled on a "first-come, first-served" basis. For those with multiple awards, only one project per company will be accepted for the program. The average time to complete a Technology Niche Analysis® is 2 to 3 months. Since reports will be generated in the order the applications were received, all 177 reports will be completed between November 2015 and early March 2016. However, awardees may indicate a preference when they would like to receive the TNA® report in the registration forms. NIH and Foresight will try to accommodate such preferences if possible.
The Technology Niche Analysis® report may be helpful in the preparation of the commercialization plan that is required in a SBIR/STTR Phase II application and, as such, applicants should consider the timing of their Phase II submission. The amount of time a program participant will need to expend is minimal (perhaps only a few hours) and participation is free.