While a letter of support may be a commitment of funds, most often it is either an endorsement of the proposed work or an offer to provide facilities or data for the small business to carry out its research and development. For a small business, a letter of support from a recognized expert in the field can present a particularly valuable voice to speak to the significance of the problem and/or the potential value of the approach suggested by the small business. Additionally, a well-known industry expert can be extremely useful in discussing the potential commercialization and market value of the proposed technology. Applicants should also seek letters of support from any State agencies who have promised matching funds should the applicant receive an SBIR/STTR award.
If you do not already have an established relationship with an academic in the field, the Google Scholar search engine offers a useful starting point. Searching for articles that are related to your research area should help you narrow down the significant, recent articles. The articles will also indicate how many times each one has been accessed and will also include the author's name. Once you have located a particular author that appears to be involved in an appropriate field, an introductory email seeking a brief meeting (virtual) or telephone call to discuss the project is the suggested next step. However, applicants should be aware that they may have to go into detail about the proposed research and determine whether this is information that they wish to share at this early stage. Applicants may also wish to consider any authors whose work is referenced in the topics document as well.
In addition to seeking out industry experts for letters of support, seeking contacts with such individuals is also a step in the process of developing a relationship with a potential partner. However, as with academics and researchers, applicants should note that they may have to share details about their project and consider whether or not they are ready to share any detailed information. If applicants are unsure of who the industry experts are in their fields, it may be useful to to search for conferences on topics that are related to the field and review the conference programs if possible. While it is unlikely that an applicant would be able to attend a related conference during the application window, often past conference programs are online and it may provide applicants with ideas of which conferences to attend in the future for networking possibilities. DOE's Partnering Resources page may also be of use for applicants seeking industry experts.
Letters of Support should be printed on official letterhead, signed by authorized representatives, and provided with the application materials. The letter must provide details of the funds or resources committed to the project (if any), and briefly discuss the merits or potential impact of the project. The letter should also provide some indication of the expertise of the writer and why his/her support is meaningful.
Begin the conversation with the academic or industry expert as soon as possible so that they have time to draft a convincing and thorough letter of support. Begin the conversation at least 6 weeks prior to the application submission deadline.
Once you have established a connection with the expert, and they have agreed to write a letter of support, it may be helpful to provide them with a draft of the letter so that they more easily craft a document that meets the needs of your application.
DOE tutorial: Securing Letters of Support