This webinar provides insight into the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program regulations, common SBIR myths, and how to develop effective strategies to protect and enhance your data rights, value and wealth under the SBIR program. The SBIR program was established under the Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982 (P.L. 97-219) with the purpose of strengthening the role of innovative small business concerns in federally funded research and development (R&D). Despite being touted as one of SBA’s most successful small business programs, the SBIR program’s unique rules, regulations, and data rights provisions are not well understood by small businesses and some participating federal agencies. Thirty-eight years after its inception, “… this small business set-aside program (still) struggles against ignorance, indifference, and outright opposition” (Metzger, 2016)*. Attendees will learn how SBIR policies differ from other government contracting regulations and, more importantly, how to address the government’s misinterpretations, reluctance to take advantage of SBIR program authorities, and/or deliberate attempts to reduce a small business’s SBIR data rights.