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Department of Defense SBIR Program is a grant from the Department of Defense that funds U.S. small businesses to conduct early-stage research and development of innovative technologies with defense applications and commercial potential. The program follows a phased structure: Phase I supports proof-of-concept work (up to ,000), and Phase II funds continued R&D toward commercialization (up to ,700,000).
Service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses are eligible and encouraged to apply. Eligible applicants must be U.S. for-profit small businesses with fewer than 500 employees, owned and controlled by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, with the principal investigator primarily employed by the firm. The current deadline is May 15, 2026.
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Or search similar grants →Extracted from the official opportunity page/RFP to help you evaluate fit faster.
Learn how the program works, check if you meet eligibility requirements, and how to find additional local support and resources. How It Works Funding Basics Eligibility FAQ Agencies Post Solicitations Before you apply, read the entire solicitation carefully. This may prevent administrative mistakes that could disqualify your proposal.
Make sure you meet all eligibility requirements before you apply. Give yourself plenty of time to prepare your proposal. You must respond before the submission closing date.
Apply through the agency's SBIR or STTR program before the submission closing date. Participating Agencies Review Proposals Review process times vary; check with the specific agency. The program's rigorous proposal review process provides critical feedback that can help refine your concept.
If you receive funding, be strategic about how you use it, as the award amount may not cover all of your R&D expenses. Previous awardees may apply for Phase I funding for new innovations and Phase II funding for continuing R&D. Some states have matching programs to cover the costs of creating a proposal.
Awarded companies use Phase I funding to create proof-of-concepts for their innovations. Award Amounts: $50,000-$275,000 The objective of Phase II is to continue research and R&D efforts started in Phase I. Typically, only Phase I awardees are eligible for Phase II awards.
Award Amounts: $400,000-$1. 8 million Based on Phase I & II activities, small businesses pursue commercialization in the private sector and/or federal contracting marketplace. No SBIR/STTR funding is awarded in Phase III.
The Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program exists to unlock the power and innovative thinking of the country’s research institutions. The primary difference from SBIR is that for STTR, the small business must formally partner with a research institution.
You're eligible to apply for funding through America's Seed fund if your company: Is a for-profit entity located in the U.S. Has fewer than 500 employees (most applicants have fewer than 10). Is owned and controlled by U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Some additional restrictions apply with venture capital ownership.
See full eligibility guidelines for more details. Download the Full Eligibility Guidelines (PDF) Are non-profit organizations eligible for SBIR/STTR awards? No. A non-profit organization cannot directly receive an SBIR or STTR award.
Non-profits may be a minority investor or subcontractor or sub-grantee on a project. In addition, an STTR awardee must subcontract a portion of the award to a research institution – a scientific or educational nonprofit institution, or a Federally Funded R&D Centers (FFRDC). What non-profit research institutions qualify to participate in the STTR program?
The research institution mustbe owned and operated exclusively for scientific or educational purposes, non-profit, and located in the US. Research institutions eligible to participate in the STTR Program include: Nonprofit college or university Domestic nonprofit scientific/research organization Federally Funded R&D Centers (FFRDC) I have a business; however, I am not federally registered. Can I still apply to the SBIR/STTR programs?
You must have a Unique Entity ID (UEI) from SAM. gov to receive SBIR/STTR awards. Find organizations in your area that help entrepreneurs like you establish your business, find opportunities, prepare a proposal, and bring your idea to market.
The SBA works with a variety of local partners to train and support small businesses that are interested in receiving funding through America's Seed Fund. Use local assistance to find the help you need, including proposal assistance, SAM registration, commercialization support, and industry networking. Explore participating agencies to learn about their missions, priorities, and programs.
You can also search all topics to find opportunities that are a fit for your concept. View participating agencies → Find out everything you need to know about the SBIR and STTR programs with our program overviews and in-depth video tutorials. Presentation on how to leverage America's Seed Fund, including differences between different levels of funding and how to begin the process.
Phase 0 & State Matching Programs During the pre-proposal and preparation phases, some states have created what are known as “Phase 0” awards programs. These programs are designed to assist new applicants in their pursuit of Phase I federal SBIR/STTR awards.
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: U. S. small businesses with fewer than 500 employees; principal investigator primarily employed by the small business; SDVOSB eligible and encouraged. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows phase I: up to $250,000; Phase II: up to $1,700,000. Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
Department of Defense SBIR Program accepts applications on a rolling basis — there is no single fixed deadline. Check the official notice for any cycle-specific review dates.
Department of Defense SBIR Program is funded by Department of Defense. 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.
The Department of Defense FY2026 Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) provides funding for U.S. universities to acquire research equipment and instrumentation in areas important to national defense, including AI and machine learning hardware. The program is administered jointly by the Army Research Office (ARO), Office of Naval Research (ONR), and Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), with approximately $34 million available and 95 awards anticipated. DURIP funds the acquisition of specialized computing hardware for AI/ML research (GPU clusters, TPUs, neuromorphic processors), robotics and autonomous systems testbeds, sensor arrays and data collection systems for machine learning training, high-performance computing infrastructure for defense-relevant AI research, and laboratory equipment for human-AI interaction studies. The program specifically supports equipment that enhances research-related education in DoD-priority disciplines. While general-purpose computing is not eligible, computing equipment directly supporting DoD-relevant AI research programs qualifies. No cost sharing is required.
The FY2026 Department of Defense Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) program supports basic research in science and engineering at U.S. institutions of higher education, with emphasis on multidisciplinary research where more than one traditional discipline interacts. The Army, Navy, and Air Force basic research offices are seeking applications across 22 topic areas including artificial intelligence and autonomy, information sensing and processing, and systems manipulation. MURI grants typically provide $1.25 million to $1.5 million per year for three years with option to extend two additional years. Approximately $170 million in total funding is available annually across all topics. The program is administered through the Office of Naval Research (ONR), Army Research Office (ARO), and Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR).
DoD Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI) is sponsored by Department of Defense (DoD) - Office of Naval Research (ONR). The Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI), administered by the Department of Defense Office of Naval Research, supports basic research in science and engineering at U. S.
DoD Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI) is sponsored by Department of Defense (DoD) - Office of Naval Research (ONR). The Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI), administered by the Department of Defense Office of Naval Research, supports basic research in science and engineering at U. S.
SBIR SF254-D1206: Knowledge-Guided Test and Evaluation Frameworks for proliferated Low Earth Orbit Constellations is sponsored by U.S. Air Force. DOD SBIR topic SF254-D1206: Knowledge-Guided Test and Evaluation Frameworks for proliferated Low Earth Orbit Constellations. Component: U.S. Air Force. Command: SDA. Solicitation: DoD SBIR 2025.4. Phase(s): D2PII, II, SPII. Status: Pre-Release. Open date: 3/4/2026.
The Department's FY26 SBIR/STTR Release 3 opened June 24 with roughly 37 topics across DARPA, the Navy, the Air Force, and the defense components, all closing July 22. The compressed four-week window is unforgiving, but the bigger mistake founders make is treating every component the same. Here is how to read the release, the eligibility rules that disqualify good companies, and why the component you target matters more than the topic you pick.
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