More resources for small businesses

After securing a patent or trademark, you may need help taking the next step in starting up your small business or protecting your intellectual property at home and abroad. A variety of federal and intergovernmental resources are available to help you along your journey. Explore federal grant opportunities for small and minority-owned businesses and learn how to navigate international intellectual property protection using the links below.

Small and minority business resources

Small Business Administration (SBA)
Resources for inventors, entrepreneurs, innovators and business owners.

SBIR/STTR (SBIR/ STTR) programs (also referred to as America’s Seed Fund TM) enable small businesses to explore their technological potential and profit from its commercialization. They offer resources for companies doing R&D.
Federal And State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program provides funding and support to develop SBIR/STTR grant proposals.
Local assistance through SBA and their partners.

Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)
Customized business development and industry-focused services to provide greater access to capital, contracts and markets.

National Science Foundation
Small business opportunities.

Manufacturing Extension Partnership
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) public-private partnership with centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico dedicated to serving small and medium-sized manufacturers.

Additional U.S. government guidance

Economic Development Administration (EDA)
The EDA's Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIE) program aims to empower communities so that innovators and entrepreneurs can launch companies, scale technologies and create the jobs of tomorrow.

STOPfakes.gov
Resources to understand and protect your intellectual property at home and abroad.

International intellectual property protection

USPTO's Office of Policy and International Affairs
Resources for international intellectual property protection and enforcement.

The Global Intellectual Property Academy (GIPA) hosts IP eLearning Modules on intellectual property protection and enforcement in five languages: English, Spanish, French, Arabic and Russian.
The IP Attaché Program helps U.S. citizens navigate other countries’ intellectual property protection and enforcement.

IP5 Cooperative Offices
Streamlined international IP protection.

European Patent Office (EPO)
Japan Patent Office (JPO)
Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO)
China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA)

Directory of intellectual property offices
World Intellectual Property Organization’s directory of other foreign IP offices.