Eastern Idaho will host an important conversation on innovation funding at the upcoming iTECH Summit
The iTECH Summit 2026 will take place March 17 to 18 at the Mountain America Center, bringing together technology leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators from across Idaho.
A featured program at the summit will spotlight non-dilutive federal funding opportunities for entrepreneurs. Teresa McKnight, CEO of Regional Economic Development for Eastern Idaho and administrator of Elevate Idaho, will present “Elevate Idaho: Unlocking Non-Dilutive Funding for Idaho Entrepreneurs.”
The session comes at an important time following the recent reauthorization of the Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Program. These programs collectively provide more than $5 billion annually in federal innovation funding to small businesses through competitive research and development grants that do not require entrepreneurs to give up equity.
During the session, Teresa will walk Idaho entrepreneurs through how these programs work, what recently changed with the reauthorization, and how innovators can navigate opportunities across 11 federal agencies. The presentation will also highlight how Elevate Idaho helps companies compete for these awards and move ideas from research to commercial success.
The SBIR and STTR programs offer significant opportunities for small businesses pursuing research and technology development. Phase I awards can provide up to $275,000 to explore feasibility, while Phase II awards can provide up to $2 million to continue development. A new category of Strategic Breakthrough Awards can reach up to $30 million for high impact technologies.
At REDI, this work matters because access to innovation funding helps companies grow, create high wage jobs, and bring new technologies to market. Programs like Elevate Idaho strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial pipeline and help position Eastern Idaho as a place where startups, researchers, and advanced industries can succeed.
📍 iTECH Summit | March 17-18 | Mountain America Center, Idaho Falls
🎟️ See the Full Agenda, Meet all the Speakers/Panelists and Register: iTECH Summit Idaho Falls
