The Small Business Innovation Research Program in Australia

To enhance both innovation in national defence and the competitiveness and innovative performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the Small Business Innovation Research for Defence (SBIRD) was established by the Australian government in 1996. The goal of the SBIRD was to enhance specific challenges prioritized by the Government for Defence, and to enhance emerging technologies and in particular disruptive technologies. The SBIRD consists of two phases, similar to the U.S. SBIR program. Sufficient time has not elapsed for systematic evaluations and analyses of the impact of the program.