NY A09671

Establishes the New York State Innovation Voucher Program under the Empire State Development Corporation to provide small businesses with access to research and development services from colleges, universities, government laboratories, and public research institutes.

Awards innovation vouchers up to $10,000 per eligible project, with up to $50,000 available for exceptionally innovative projects in emerging technology fields; eligible small businesses must match voucher amounts dollar-for-dollar.

Requires eligible recipients to be selected by the corporation based on proposal strength, including innovation, technical feasibility, commercial viability, and job creation potential, with evaluation by an advisory committee of higher education, science, technology, and business representatives.

Prohibits reimbursement of employee time, routine business expenses, marketing costs, basic professional services, construction costs, financing fees, and travel/entertainment expenses as ineligible project costs.

Requires the corporation to post quarterly reports on voucher issuance, funding use, recipients, research partners, jobs created or retained, patents produced, and other program success metrics; rules and regulations must be completed within 180 days of enactment.