(1) The legislature finds that small technology-based firms are the source of approximately one-half of the economy's major innovations and that it is in the interest of the state to increase participation by Washington state small businesses in the federal small business innovation research program by assisting them in becoming small business innovation research program grant recipients.

     The legislature further finds that many small business innovators lack the grant-writing skills necessary to prepare a successful small business innovation research program proposal, and the federal program that funded grant-writing assistance has stopped operations. Nearly fifty percent of small businesses trained under the federal program won grants compared to less than ten percent of those that did not receive training.

     (2) As used in this section:

     (a) "Small business innovation research program" means the program, enacted pursuant to the small business innovation development act of 1982, P.L. 97-219, that provided funds to small businesses to conduct innovative research having commercial application.

     (b) "Small business" means a corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, or individual, operating a business for profit, with two hundred fifty employees or fewer, including employees employed in a subsidiary or affiliated corporation, that otherwise meets the requirements of the federal small business innovation research program.

     (3) The Washington technology center shall establish a small business innovation research assistance program, including a proposal review process, to train and assist Washington small businesses to win phase I small business innovation research program awards.

     (a) The Washington technology center shall give priority to first-time small business innovation research program applicants, new businesses, and firms with fewer than ten employees.

     (b) The Washington technology center may charge a fee for this service.

[2005 c 357 § 1.]