NSF Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I Programs

Closed Posted

Opportunity number
24-579
Agency
Applications due
Award size
$305,000 or more

Opportunity facts

Assistance listings
Funding instrument
Grant
Category
  • Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Eligible applicants
  • Other
Points of contact
Full announcement

Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .

About this opportunity

Written by GovTribe AI ·

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Phase I Programs provide non-dilutive funding for unproven, leading-edge technology innovations that address societal challenges. The program seeks innovations underpinned by new scientific discoveries or meaningful engineering advances that require intensive technical research and development to become viable products or services. Eligible applicants must demonstrate technological innovations that are not yet reduced to practice, provide strong competitive advantages, and have potential to disrupt existing markets or create new market segments. The NSF encourages participation from diverse entrepreneurs, including socially and economically disadvantaged and women-owned small businesses, with a focus on translating scientific and engineering discoveries from private sector, federal labs, and academia into scalable commercial solutions. Proposals will be evaluated based on the innovation's technical merit, potential commercial impact, and alignment with the program's goal of stimulating technical innovation across scientific and engineering disciplines.

The grant opportunity provides funding through Phase I grants, typically ranging from $50,000 to $225,000, with project durations of approximately 6-12 months. The work will be predominantly performed at small business facilities, research laboratories, and academic institutions across the United States. While the program does not specify a fixed number of awards, it funds broadly across scientific and engineering disciplines, with the primary goal of supporting early-stage technological research that can be developed into sustainable businesses. The funding is non-dilutive, meaning businesses retain equity, and any inventions developed are subject to the Bayh-Dole Act. The current solicitation is open with a proposal due date of November 5, 2025, offering substantial flexibility for potential applicants to develop and submit innovative research proposals.

Synopsis

The NSF SBIR/STTRprograms provide non-dilutive funds for use-inspired research and development (R & D) of unproven, leading-edge, technology innovations that address societal challenges. By investing federal research and development funds into startups and small businesses, NSF helps build a strong national economy and stimulates the creation of novel products, services, and solutions in the private sector; strengthens the role of small business in meeting federal research and development needs; increases the commercial application of federally-supported research results; and develops and increases the U.S. workforce, especially by fostering and encouraging participation by socially and economically-disadvantaged and women-owned small businesses. NSF seeks unproven, leading-edge technology innovations that demonstrate the following characteristics:

  • The innovations are underpinned and enabled by a new scientific discovery or meaningful engineering innovation.
  • The innovations still require intensive technical research and development to be fully embedded in a reliable product or service.
  • The innovations have not yet been reduced to practice by anyone and it is not guaranteed, at present, that doing so is technically possible.
  • The innovations provide a strong competitive advantage that are not easily replicable by competitors (even technically proficient ones).
  • Once reduced to practice, the innovations are expected to result in a product or service that would either be disruptive to existing markets or create new markets/new market segments.

The NSF SBIR/STTR programs fund broadly across scientific and engineering disciplines and do not solicit specific technologies or procure goods and services from startups and small businesses. The funding provided is non-dilutive. Any invention conceived or reduced to practice with the assistance of SBIR/STTR funding is subject to the Bayh-Dole Act. For more information, refer to the SBIR/STTR Frequently Asked Questions, #75. NSF encourages input and participation from the full spectrum of diverse talent that society has to offer which includes underrepresented and underserved communities. This program is governed by15 U.S.C. 638and the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.). Introduction to Program: The SBIR and STTR programs, initiated at NSF, were established in 1982 as part of the Small Business Innovation Development Act. The NSF SBIR/STTR programs focus on stimulating technical innovation from diverse entrepreneurs and startups by translating new scientific and engineering discoveries emerging from the private sector, federal labs, and academia into products and services that can be scaled and commercialized into sustainable businesses with significant societal benefits. The NSF SBIR/STTR programs are now part of theDirectorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP), which was recently launched to accelerate innovation and enhance economic competitiveness by catalyzing partnerships and investments that strengthen the links between fundamental research and technology development, deployment, and use.

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