FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | May 21, 2026
Contact: Sarah Fulton (302) 401-1114
DOVER — As part of the ongoing efforts to modernize the laws governing Delaware’s financial sector and attract businesses to the First State, Senator Darius Brown advanced legislation on Wednesday updating the Delaware Technical Innovation Program.
“Here in Delaware, we have examples of countless success stories from entrepreneurs and small business owners who were able to launch their company because they had access to capital and other resources to support their emerging enterprise,” said Sen. Brown. “Through the work of Opportunity LIVES Here to modernize Delaware’s fintech, biosciences, and AI industries, we’re continuing to prove that Delaware is the premier destination to do business.”
Senate Bill 315 authorizes the Delaware Division of Small Business to provide matching funds or supplemental grant funds to eligible Delaware small businesses receiving federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) awards in order to support research, development, commercialization, and economic benefit across Delaware.
“I’m proud to support our partners across the state like the Fintech Innovation Hub, the Small Business Development Center, our chambers of commerce, and so many others who are working diligently and creatively to lift up our small businesses,” said Rep. Bill Bush, House prime sponsor of the legislation. “SB 315 continues our commitment to Delaware business owners, and to our technology ecosystem as a whole.”
Beyond supporting the SBIR and STTR programs, the Delaware Technical Innovation Program is designed to provide technical assistance to small businesses, develop job training resources, and coordinate efforts within the business sector to embrace new technologies and commercialize innovative products developed by small businesses.
Organizations like the Delaware Small Business Development Center and Tech Council of Delaware offered testimony in support of the legislation.
“For years, the Delaware Small Business Development Center and the Delaware Biotechnology Association have worked to develop competencies and provide free advising and coaching to businesses that want to grow. But the key tool in the toolbox to support these companies is SBIRs and STTRs,” said Mike Bowman, State Director of the SBDC. “SBIR and SSTR grants are awarded from an array of Federal agencies to companies with promising technologies, and Delaware SBDC has an award success rate of 25%. Over ten years, SBDC advising, coupled with opportunities like Delaware Innovation Space, DTP @ STAR, and other laboratory spaces that host promising innovative companies here in Delaware, have generated 380 SBIR and STTR awards, valued at around $184M dollars. SB 315 modernizes and adds agility to this program — and that’s going to keep Delaware competitive.”
“By authorizing the State to provide matching or supplemental funds to Delaware small businesses that receive federal SBIR or STTR Phase I or Phase II awards, this bill strengthens the bridge between promising research and real-world commercialization. That bridge is often where small companies struggle most,” wrote Joshua Berkow, CEO of the Tech Council of Delaware in a letter of support. “Federal awards are highly competitive and validate the technical merit and commercial promise of an idea, but they do not always provide enough flexible capital to help companies move quickly from concept to prototype, from prototype to customer, or from early research to deployment. State matching funds can help close that gap.”
SB 315 was released from the Senate Elections & Government Affairs Committee on Wednesday, May 20, and awaits consideration before the Senate.
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