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Artificial Intelligence (SBIR/STTR) is sponsored by U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). Funding for small businesses to develop cutting-edge deep learning-based AI systems, AI-based hardware, and other novel AI technologies with significant commercial and societal impact. Emphasizes next-generation AI that is safe, reliable, fair, robust, privacy-preserving, and efficient.
Includes subtopics like cognitive science-based technologies, computer vision, conversational AI, language-based AI, novel AI hardware, sustainable AI, and trustworthy AI.
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Search similar grants →According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Small businesses (fewer than 500 employees) located in the United States, with at least 50% equity owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents. NSF does not fund companies majority-owned by multiple venture capital firms, private equity firms, or hedge funds. All funded work must take place in the United States. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows up to $305,000 for Phase I, up to $1,250,000 for Phase II. Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
The published deadline was June 2, 2026, which has passed. Check the official notice for any future application windows before investing time in a proposal.
Artificial Intelligence (SBIR/STTR) is funded by U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Yes — this listing is flagged as national in scope, so applicants across the U.S. may apply, subject to the sponsor's other eligibility criteria.
Applications go through the funder's official portal — the Apply Now link on this page goes there directly.
Past winners and funding trends for this program
NVIDIA Graduate Fellowship Program is a grant from NVIDIA providing up to $60,000 per award to PhD students conducting research that advances accelerated computing and its applications. Now in its 25th year, the program invites nominations from doctoral students pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous vehicles, and related fields. Recipients receive not only research funding but also access to NVIDIA technology, products, and engineering expertise, along with a mandatory in-person summer internship. Students are nominated by their faculty advisors and selected based on academic achievement and research area alignment.
CalSEED Concept Award is a grant from the California Energy Commission that provides $150,000 in funding to early-stage clean energy innovators in California. The program targets individuals, businesses, and nonprofits developing hardware, software, or integrated solutions at Technology Readiness Levels 2-4. Eligible technology areas rotate each cycle and have included battery recycling and reuse, long-duration energy storage, medium- and heavy-duty vehicle electrification, industrial electrification, and advanced EV charging. Applicants must be located in California, have under $1 million in private funding, and propose innovations that benefit California ratepayers. Concept Award winners also receive professional development resources and access to accelerator programs, and may compete for a subsequent $450,000 Prototype Award.
NASA STRIDE (Science Transport and Robotic Innovation for Deployment and Exploration) is a grant program from NASA that solicits proposals from U.S. industry to conduct design studies of advanced robotic surface and aerial mobility systems with payload transportation and deployment capability for Mars surface operations. The program supports innovation in robotic mobility systems that could enable future Mars science missions. U.S.-based universities and nonprofit research organizations may also be eligible per the grant record. The application deadline for this cycle was March 31, 2026.
On June 1, DARPA and NSF announced AI Forge — a jointly governed forum that will fund university-led research on three thrusts: AI interpretability, AI control, and adversarial robustness. The RFI on sam.gov closes June 22, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET. Project Ventures awards run roughly \$750K to \$3M with one-year durations and multiple awards expected annually. Administration runs through a nonprofit, intellectual property will be shared via open-source licensing, and CAISI at NIST is the third partner. Here is what the 15 priority research challenges look like and how U.S. universities should respond.
Read articleOn May 31, NSF announced the restart of its SBIR and STTR programs with a \$250 million FY26 allocation, a Project Pitch portal reopening June 2, a first full-proposal deadline of July 27, 2026, and additional windows on November 4 and March 4, 2027. Phase I tops out at \$305K, Phase II at \$1.25M, and a new Strategic Breakthrough lane extends invited Phase II companies up to \$30M. A separate \$40M instrumentation pilot (NSF 26-511) funds next-generation scientific tools. Here is what changed from prior cycles, who the program actually fits, and how to position a Project Pitch for the July deadline.
Read articleDARPA and NSF launched a joint program on June 1 to fund university work on AI interpretability, control, and adversarial robustness. Awards run $750K to $3M+ per project, the forum launches this summer, and the universities listed in the AI Forge repository will sit closest to the money. The Request for Information closes June 22.
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