AI and Machine Learning Research Grants (SBIR Program)

AI and Machine Learning Research Grants (SBIR Program) is sponsored by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program funds research applying artificial intelligence and machine learning to space science, Earth science, and aerospace technology challenges.

Topics and solicitations are known by many names including Request for Proposals (RFP), Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), or simply Topic/Solicitation. No matter what it's called, they outline specific rules and guidance on how to prepare a response, also called an application or a proposal. Participating Agencies post SBIR/STTR funding opportunities on a regular periodic basis throughout the year.

Some agencies have multiple solicitations throughout the year, while others may only have one solicitation release each year. Once you identify a relevant agency to target, learn more about that specific Funding planner with estimated dates. All agencies have a 45 day lead in period.

DHS is from September to October 2025, DoD has multiple dates, DOE is from May to August, and September to January, DOT is February to April, ED is November to January 2026, EPA is April to June, HHS is April to May, June to August, and September to November, NASA is February to April, May to June, and August to October, NOAA is November to February 2026, NSF is January to April, June to August, and USDA is June to August.

of War releases are the first Wednesday of each month, and closes the last Wednesday of the following month (e.g., opens 03/26/2025, closes 04/23/25) Select a Solicitation Status Department Of Agriculture ⮡ National Institute of Food and Agriculture ⮡ National Institute of Standards and Technology ⮡ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ⮡ Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (3) ⮡ Defense Logistics Agency ⮡ Defense Microelectronics Activity ⮡ Defense Threat Reduction Agency ⮡ Missile Defense Agency (10) ⮡ National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency ⮡ Office for Chemical and Biological Defense ⮡ Office of the Secretary of Defense (10) ⮡ Space Development Agency ⮡ Special Operations Command (2) ⮡ Strategic Capabilities Office ⮡ Institute of Education Sciences ⮡ Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services / National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research Department of Health and Human Services (11) ⮡ Administration for Community Living ⮡ Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (7) ⮡ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ⮡ Food and Drug Administration ⮡ National Institutes of Health (1) Department of Homeland Security ⮡ Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction ⮡ Domestic Nuclear Detection Office ⮡ Domestic Nuclear Detection Office SBIR Program ⮡ Science and Technology Directorate Department of the Interior Department of Transportation Environmental Protection Agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration National Science Foundation Nuclear Regulatory Commission Small Business Administration Showing 1-10 of 45 results NIH, CDC and FDA Small Business Innovation Research Grant (Parent SBIR [R43/R44] Clinical Trial Optional) Open Release Date: May 28, 2026 Open Date: August 5, 2026 Close Date: April 6, 2027 NIH Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase IIB Strategic Breakthrough Award (Parent [R44] Clinical Trial Optional) Open Release Date: May 28, 2026 Open Date: August 5, 2026 Close Date: April 6, 2027 NIH Small Business Technology Transfer Grant (Parent STTR [R41/R42] Clinical Trial Optional) Open Release Date: May 28, 2026 Open Date: August 5, 2026 Close Date: April 6, 2027 SBIR/STTR Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) Program (Parent SB1 Clinical Trial Optional) Open Release Date: May 28, 2026 Open Date: August 5, 2026 Close Date: April 6, 2027 The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs (also known as America's Seed Fund) are major sources of early-stage funding for U.S. technology development and commercialization.

NIH SBIR and STTR awards... Next-Gen Thermal Batteries for Missile Defense Application Open Release Date: July 1, 2026 Open Date: July 22, 2026 Close Date: August 19, 2026 Current thermal battery technologies, while highly reliable for critical power applications in missile defense, present limitations that directly impact the performance and capabilities of advanced interceptor systems. Key constraints include their specific...

Potential Application of Very Large Array (VLA) over Transmission Infrastructure Open Release Date: July 1, 2026 Open Date: July 22, 2026 Close Date: August 19, 2026 The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) seeks to add multiple resilient layers to the Missile Defense System. The proposed system uses current power infrastructure to detect potential anomalies generated by unknown sources.

Advanced Stand-Off Detection of Concealed Materials (ASDCM) Open Release Date: July 1, 2026 Open Date: July 22, 2026 Close Date: August 19, 2026 USSOCOM seeks a field-deployable capability to enable detection, discrimination, and triangulation of dangerous or restricted materials without direct sampling, physical breach, or active signal emission. As a part of this feasibility study, the proposers...

Novel Ignition Systems for multi-pulse Solid Propellant Rocket Motors Open Release Date: July 1, 2026 Open Date: July 22, 2026 Close Date: August 19, 2026 Solid propellant propulsion systems which utilize multiple pulses commonly use separate pyrotechnic or pyrogen igniters for each pulse. In recent years, alternative ignition methods have been conceptualized which could ignite rocket motors multiple times with...

Open Topic for Historical Radiation Data Analysis for Enhanced Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) Modeling and Prediction Open Release Date: July 1, 2026 Open Date: July 22, 2026 Close Date: August 19, 2026 The performance and survivability of Department of War (DoW) and space systems, especially those operating in space environments, are critically affected by radiation.

Radiation testing of parts are major cost and schedule drivers for DoW and space systems.... High-speed Photon-Number-Resolution Quanta Imaging Sensor Array Open Release Date: July 1, 2026 Open Date: July 22, 2026 Close Date: August 19, 2026 Single-photon counting and timing achieves light detection at the fundamental quantum limit, unlocking next generation capabilities in quantum imaging and environmental sensing.

Many applications require counting/timing photons at very high rates (>GHz),...