The SBIR Program today is widely regarded as an effective facilitator of small business innovation, as a driving force behind technological advance, and as a mechanism through which the Federal Government can multiply the return on its $70-billion-per-year investment in R&D. Studies indicate that small business procude about twice as many innovations per employee as large companies. Roughly one in four SBIR projects result in the development and sale of a new commercial product -- a very high ratio in the risky R&D business. Graphs and charts.