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Department of Energy (DOE) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs is sponsored by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC). The DOE SBIR/STTR programs are competitive non-dilutive funding programs that support American small businesses in developing innovative technologies with strong commercial potential.
Projects must have the potential for commercialization and meet specific DOE mission-specific R&D needs across areas like energy production and use, fundamental energy sciences, environmental management, and defense nuclear nonproliferation. DOE releases solicitations twice a year, and topics are announced separately. A mandatory Letter of Intent (LOI) is required for submission.
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DOE Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) | Department of Energy DOE Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Light Text on a Dark Overlay (Default) The U.S. Department of Energy’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs are competitive non-dilutive funding programs that support American small businesses in developing innovative technologies with strong commercial potential.
The DOE recently consolidated the management of the SBIR/STTR programs to the Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC), reflecting DOE’s focus on moving taxpayer-funded research toward real-world impact. The SBIR/STTR programs align directly with OTC’s mission to accelerate commercialization, streamline innovation pathways, and strengthen engagement between small businesses and the DOE National Laboratory system.
This transition reinforces DOE’s commitment to improving operational efficiency and investing in technological advancements towards energy dominance. Additional resources and program information will be added to this site as program updates are finalized. SBIR and STTR are congressionally authorized programs that reserve a portion of federal research funding for U.S. small businesses.
Through a competitive, phased process, companies receive funding to establish technical feasibility (Phase I), further develop and prototype their technology (Phase II), and pursue commercialization and follow-on opportunities (Phase III). Participation is limited to for-profit U.S. small businesses that meet Small Business Administration eligibility requirements.
DOE coordinates its SBIR/STTR implementation with the U.S. Small Business Administration. The Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act (S. 3971) was signed into law on April 13, 2026.
This Act extends the SBIR/STTR Programs through Fiscal Year 2031. DOE’s new SBIR/STTR programs will follow the phases illustrated below. Participants will submit a single application to enter the program, and from there may progress to subsequent phases through a series of Go/No-Go decision points.
Therefore, once the initial application is submitted, no additional applications will be required. Instead, participants will advance through subsequent phases at their own pace by successfully meeting established milestones and performance criteria. Awardees are responsible for managing their projects in accordance with DOE SBIR/STTR Terms and Conditions.
Required technical and financial reports for projects awarded prior to 2026 are submitted through DOE’s Portfolio Analysis and Management System (PAMS) and FedConnect . DOE maintains requirements related to fraud, waste, abuse, and foreign risk management to protect U.S. taxpayer investments. Awardees must disclose relevant affiliations and comply with all reporting and oversight requirements .
American Made Challenges incentivizes innovation through prizes, training, teaming, and mentoring, connecting the nation’s entrepreneurs and innovators to America’s national labs and the private sector. ConnectWerx administers critical energy opportunities to heighten energy security and strengthen national security ecosystems.
EnergyWerx facilitates discovery, engagement, and acceleration of energy innovation to strengthen national security and energy resiliency. TechWerx is a hub that connects visionaries, researchers, industry and energy leaders with the opportunities for technological advancement. Will SBIR/STTR opportunities be open for applications in 2026?
DOE has several planned SBIR-STTR announcements this year: Opening for applications to Phase II topics Opening for applications to some Phase I topics Opening for applications to additional Phase I topics I have a currently active project. Will it be impacted by the program management transition to OTC? No, currently active projects will not be impacted by this change.
All projects awarded prior to March 2026 will continue under the same points of contact. I have an active Phase I project. Will I have the opportunity to apply for a Phase II award?
Yes, recipients of Phase I awards will be able to apply for Phase II awards. Stay tuned for updates by subscribing to the OTC SBIR/STTR newsletter . What technology areas do the DOE SBIR/STTR programs support?
DOE SBIR/STTR topics are drawn from the mission areas of the Department. DOE offers opportunities annually. Future SBIR/STTR opportunities will address national challenges in advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, critical materials, quantum information science, semiconductors, energy innovation, and more.
What is the difference between SBIR and STTR? The SBIR program was established by Congress in 1982 [Public Law 97-219].
It major goals are to: Stimulate technological innovation Use small business to meet Federal R/R&D needs Increase private sector commercialization of innovations derived from Federal R/R&D, thereby increasing competition, productivity, and economic growth The STTR program was established by Congress in 1992 [Public Law 102-564].
Its major goals are to: Stimulate and foster scientific and technological innovation through cooperative research and development carried out between small business concerns and research institutions Foster technology transfer between small business concerns and research institutions How can I share my feedback about the SBIR and STTR programs? DOE is committed to continuous program improvement.
You can email SBIR and STTR program feedback and recommendations to sbir-sttr@hq. doe. gov .
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Small businesses with the potential for commercialization and responsive to DOE mission areas. A Letter of Intent (LOI) submission is mandatory. Most topics allow submission as either an SBIR or STTR application. For STTR, a formal cooperative R&D effort between a small business and a nonprofit research institution is required. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows approximately $300M annually across 350-400 Phase I awards and 160-200 Phase II awards. Typical funding for Phase I is up to $250,000 over approximately 6 months, and for Phase II is up to $1.8M over 24-36 months. Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
Department of Energy (DOE) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs is funded by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC). 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 solicitation lists 5 required documents: Letter of Intent (LOI), Budget justification, Data management plan, Foreign relationships disclosure, and Indirect rate documentation. Check the official notice for formatting and page-limit rules.
Past winners and funding trends for this program
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Phase I (DOE Genesis Mission) is sponsored by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC). This DOE SBIR Phase I opportunity focuses on the Genesis Mission, supporting breakthrough technologies in areas including "Scaling the Biotechnology Revolution." Projects related to Pichia pastoris, particularly in areas of biotechnology for energy production, biomaterials, or sustainable processes, would be relevant. This is a pitch-first application process.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs (Genesis Mission Phase I) is sponsored by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC). This Phase I opportunity, focused on DOE's Genesis Mission, supports technologies in four areas including "Scaling the Biotechnology Revolution." Pichia pastoris is a significant host for biotechnology, particularly in the production of enzymes, biopharmaceuticals, and other biomolecules. Proposals advancing biotechnology, especially those with strong commercial potential and alignment with DOE mission areas, would be relevant.
On July 22, 2026, the White House announced more than $5 billion in federal commitments for the Genesis Mission — the Department of Energy-led national initiative to fuse AI, exascale computing, and the 17 national labs into a single scientific platform. Nearly 300 projects across all 50 states were selected from a historic Request for Applications, and 15-plus agencies are now attaching funding to a set of National Science and Technology Challenges. Here is what the Genesis Mission is, how the money is structured, and the concrete on-ramps for researchers, universities, and small businesses who were not in the first cohort.
Read articleOn August 24, 2026, DOE and SBA signed a memorandum of agreement creating the Small Business Investment Company-Energy Initiative, pointing a $58 billion SBA-leveraged investment program at DOE's technology priorities. No application, no NOFO, no deadline. Here is how SBIC capital actually works, why a January 2026 rule change made this possible, and what a company sitting on a DOE Phase II award should do about it.
Read articleOn July 22, 2026 the White House committed more than $5 billion to expand the Genesis Mission — the government-wide 'AI for science' effort — announcing 278 first projects and 14 National Science and Technology Challenges spanning health, energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, and national security. More than 15 federal agencies are contributing awards, datasets, and facilities. Here is how the pieces fit, why it reorganizes the science-funding map, and how to position for the awards flowing out of it.
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