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SBIR Phase II winners was Symantec, which produces 

 natural language software. Their "Q & A" database 

 products developed under the NSF/SBIR program were 

 innovative breakthroughs that permitted computer users 

 to use standard English language queries to gather 

 information. This company now has over 1200 employees, 

 with revenues of over $346 million. 

 We will soon be providing you with similar examples from each of 

 the SBIR program managers in a compilation of SBIR successes that 

 the SBA and the program managers are preparing. 



One important fact that is sometimes overlooked or clouded by the 

 SBIR program opponents is that IT INVOLVES NO SPECIAL NEW FUNDS 

 AND IS ONE TAX EXPENDITURE THAT GENERATES A HIGH RETURN TO THE 

 ECONOMY! The funds are part of the research appropriations of the 

 various funding agencies. The program directs that a small 

 percentage of those funds be allocated to small businesses. The 

 reports by the General Accounting Office (GAO) have conclusively 

 shown that the program's commercialization efforts have resulted 

 in commercial sales that are about the same level as the initial 

 SBIR funding within a few years of the Phase II av;ards. This 

 means that the taxpayers are receiving a very high return on 

 their investment. Not only is our national research agenda being 

 fulfilled efficiently; but we are also creating new products that 

 are generating jobs and taxes. I expect that future GAO and SBA 

 reports on commercialization will show dramatic increases in the 



