OSTP Wants Maker and Hackerspace Topics in SBIR Solicitations

"OSTP is interested in working with SBIR program managers to ensure that the President's interest in hands-on STEM education is reflected in future SBIR solicitations as a topic. The specific opportunity that OSTP is interested in is the development of a set of affordable tools, equipment and kits that will allow students to (1) engage in citizen science; and (2) design and build manufactured products. These tools also have the ability to create opportunities for entrepreneurship in manufacturing, in the same way that the Web and cloud computing have made it less expensive for software entrepreneurs to launch a new business. This initiative could be implemented as a series of agency topics as opposed to a joint solicitation." More.