FM Program: SBIR Projects

In an effort to encourage small businesses to develop good formal methods tools, we have participated in the NASA Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program since 1993. The SBIR program provides the opportunity for small businesses to submit proposals in various research areas each year. In Phase 1, Companies whose proposals are chosen in a NASA-wide selection process are awarded a 6-month contract to conduct initial research and feasiblity studies. At the end of this period, the companies submit a Phase 2 proposal for up to two years of additional research and development. Companies whose proposals are chosen in this NASA-wise selection process are awarded a two year contract to complete the work proposed. More information on NASA's SBIR program is available on the World-Wide Web at http://www.sbir.nasa.gov/.

Since our participation in the SBIR program began, we have advocated eight formal methods proposals for Phase I funding; five of these have been chosen by NASA to receive funding. Two of the three non-funded proposals were for work substantially similar to work that was eventually funded, so we have been very successful in advocating those proposals that we like.

We have recommended four of five proposals for Phase II funding. All four have been chosen by NASA to receive funding. The following list shows the year of selection, proposal title, and company for each of these four:

• 1998, Multi-Formal Hardware Verification System, Levetate Design Systems, Inc.
• 1997, Verified VHDL Synthesizable Cores, Derivation Systems Inc.
• 1994, Analysis Tools for VHSIC Hardware Description Language, Odyssey Research Associates
• 1994, Digital Design Derivation System for Hardware Synthesis, Derivation Systems Inc.