Contributions of the Department of Defense Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs to Training and Education: FY1999-FY2004

This task reviewed contributions made by the Department of Defense (DoD) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs to science and technology (S&T) in support of training and education. Included were 80 SBIR and STTR topics initiated during the Fiscal Year (FY) 1999 2004 time period topics that awarded more than $83 million to 282 Phase 1 and Phase 2 projects The review found that these topics could be categorized into four research and development (R&D) areas: Intelligent Tutoring Systems (11 topics and $15 million), Authoring Tools (21 topics and $22 million), Simulation-Based Training (26 topics and $23 million), and Training System Design and Development (22 topics and $23 million). Goals being addressed across all four areas included focusing on military relevance; increasing the accessibility of training and education; incorporating intelligent computer capabilities; increasing the agility, rapidity, and ease of materials development; providing reuse and interoperability; linking training and education strategies to instructional objectives; developing games and simulation for training and education, and tailoring training and education to learner capabilities and needs. Gaps that remain to be filled in meeting S&T goals were identified for all four areas. Final discussion identified issues in managing DoD SBIR/STTR programs. These issues included infrastructure engineering, submission of reports, oversight for commercialization, ensuring innovation, evaluating results, and selecting SBIR/STTR topics for training and education.