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Illinois SBIR/STTR Phase I Matching Program is sponsored by Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.
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SBIR/STTR Matching Program SCAM ALERT: DCEO has been made aware of organizations receiving fraudulent “notice of award” letters claiming to be from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. These are not legitimate notices from DCEO. If your organization receives a notice, please report it to the Federal Trade Commission and/or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center .
SBIR/STTR Matching Program The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s (DCEO) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Matching Program provides up to $75,000 in state matching funds for Illinois-based recipients of federal SBIR/STTR Phase I awards and up to $250,000 for Illinois-based recipients of federal SBIR/STTR Phase II awards.
The goals of this program are to foster Illinois job creation and economic development by first supporting SBIR/STTR Phase I small businesses working towards applying for federal SBIR/STTR Phase II awards and to continue supporting Phase II small businesses as they progress to successful commercialization.
The federal SBIR and STTR programs are highly competitive programs that encourage domestic small businesses to engage in federal research and development (R&D) with the potential for commercialization. The STTR program also requires small businesses to formally collaborate with a research institution.
DCEO’s matching program will help small businesses meet national R&D needs, stimulate high-tech innovation and commercialization by providing small businesses and entrepreneurs with an incentive to start and grow their business in Illinois, and strengthen partnerships between private industry and research institutions.
SBIR/STTR Phase I Eligibility For-profit businesses based in Illinois (defined as principal place of business in Illinois) Business has received an SBIR/STTR Phase I award from a participating federal agency Phase I award has been awarded within 12 months from date of application to DCEO Phase I award remains open/active at time of application to DCEO Phase II application has not yet been submitted to participating federal agency Business satisfies all federal SBIR/STTR Phase I award requirements Businesses may only receive 1 grant per state fiscal year (July 1 – June 30) Businesses may only receive 1 grant with respect to each federal proposal submission Businesses may receive up to 5 awards over lifetime of the business This is not a competitive application – applications will be evaluated based on the eligibility requirements on a first-come, first-serve basis As part of the application, applicants will be required to several certifications including: Business certifies that at least 51% of research described in the federal SBIR/STTR Phase II proposal associated with its award will be conducted in Illinois, if awarded Business certifies it is not receiving concurrent funding support from other sources that duplicate the purpose of this program Business certifies that it will remain an Illinois-based business for duration of SBIR/STTR Phase II project associated with its Phase I award, if awarded Award recipients may receive 75% of their award (up to $56,250) upon approval of their application to DCEO Award recipients are eligible to receive the remaining 25% of their award (typically $18,750) after all program requirements have been satisfied, including: Compliance with all federal SBIR/STTR requirements Submission of an interim or final Phase I report to the federal sponsoring agency Demonstrated interest from the federal sponsoring agency in the Phase II proposal Submission of the Phase II proposal to the federal sponsoring agency Demonstration of the ability to conduct the research proposed in the applicant’s Phase II proposal (e.g., labor, funding, space, equipment, other resources, etc.) The following matching awards have been approved by the Director and are in various stages of the grant fulfillment process: Approved SBIR/STTR Phase I Matching Awards SBIR/STTR Phase II Eligibility For-profit businesses based in Illinois (defined as principal place of business in Illinois) Business has received an SBIR/STTR Phase II award from a participating federal agency Phase II award has been awarded within 12 months from date of application to DCEO Phase II award remains open/active at time of application to DCEO Business satisfies all federal SBIR/STTR Phase II award requirements Businesses may only receive 1 grant per state fiscal year (July 1 – June 30) Businesses may only receive 1 grant with respect to each federal proposal submission Businesses may receive up to 2 awards over lifetime of the business This is not a competitive application – applications will be evaluated based on the eligibility requirements on a first-come, first-serve basis As part of the application, applicants will be required to several certifications including: Business certifies that at least 51% of research described in the federal SBIR/STTR Phase II proposal associated with its award will be conducted in Illinois, if awarded Business certifies it is not receiving concurrent funding support from other sources that duplicate the purpose of this program Illinois-based recipients of federal SBIR/STTR Phase II awardees are eligible for DCEO SBIR/STTR Phase II Matching Grant Program grants up to $250,000.
Award recipients may receive 50% of their award (up to $125,000) upon approval of their application to DCEO Award recipients are eligible to receive the remaining 50% of their award (typically $125,000) after all program requirements have been satisfied, including: Compliance with all federal SBIR/STTR requirements Submission of a final Phase II report to the federal sponsoring agency DCEO will require grantees to report their progress toward applying for the federal SBIR/STTR phase II grant, the specific technical advancements rendered as a result of this funding, and data on performance measures that align with the Open for Business Illinois’ 2024 Economic Growth Plan Patents – the number of patents associated with or projected to be associated with activities conducted using this award R&D expenditures – R&D spending conducted associated with the award activities, including R&D expenditures from this award and any other related R&D spending, such as from other federal or private sources Investment – the amount of private capital invested in the business while conducting activities using this award Job Retainment & Growth – jobs created or retained while conducting activities using this award Average Earnings – average earnings of employees including a breakout of any differences in average earnings from jobs created or retained Resources and Application Review the SBIR/STTR Matching Program application Visit SBIR.
gov for more information on the federal SBIR and STTR programs. If you need assistance with your federal SBIR/STTR application, the FAST Center at Illinois | Research Park can provide assistance. For more information about the SBIR/STTR Match Program, please contact CEO.
SBIR@illinois. gov in DCEO’s Office of Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Technology (EIT). For additional technical assistance with the grant application process, please visit DCEO’s Video Training & Resources .
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According to the current listing, eligibility includes: For-profit businesses with principal place of business in Illinois that have received a federal SBIR/STTR Phase I award within the past 12 months and have not yet submitted a Phase II application. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows up to $75,000 (Phase I); up to $250,000 (Phase II). Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
Illinois SBIR/STTR Phase I Matching Program is funded by Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
This opportunity targets applicants in Illinois. If your organization operates elsewhere, check the official notice for location requirements.
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
Illinois SBIR/STTR Matching Grant Program is a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) that funds Illinois companies that have received federal SBIR or STTR awards by providing state-level matching grants from $1 to $250,000. The program is designed to extend and amplify the impact of federal innovation funding for Illinois-based small businesses. Applicants must be pre-qualified through GATA before applying, and must submit a Uniform Grant Application along with required supplemental documents. Applications are accepted through June 30, 2026 at 5:00pm. Contact CEO.SBIR@illinois.gov for program inquiries.
Film & TV Workforce Training Program (Illinois) is sponsored by Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). The goal of this program is to administer workforce training programs that support efforts to recruit, hire, promote, retain, develop, and train a diverse and inclusive workforce in the film industry. The training program will provide real-world, practical job skills to fulfill the demand of producers and studios, while providing job opportunities for Illinois residents, including unemployed individuals and individuals with barriers to employment.
Illinois's Federal Grant Support Program (Round 2) puts $16.9 million into a single, unglamorous job: paying the non-federal match that keeps competitive applicants out of federal competitions they would otherwise win. Awards run $10,000 to $2 million across roughly 30 recipients, on a rolling basis with no fixed deadline. As federal rules tighten and match requirements harden into eligibility gates, a 'grant to get a grant' is becoming one of the highest-leverage dollars a state can spend. Here is how the program works, who should pursue it, and why match funding is the quiet chokepoint in the 2026 federal landscape.
Read articleOn July 20, 2026, the EDA announced it intends to invest $169 million across six Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs — quantum, nuclear, critical minerals, biosecure manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and forest bioproducts — after the Trump administration rescinded the Biden-era Phase 2 awards and reran the competition. Only two of the original winners survived. Here is the full breakdown of the six hubs, why four prior awardees were dropped, and what the re-award teaches regional coalitions about competing for the next round.
Read articleThe Nasdaq Foundation's Economic Opportunity Grant Program awards up to $75,000 to nonprofits building financial literacy, access to capital, and long-term wealth. But the July 31 deadline is only an Expression of Interest — a two-stage gate that most applicants misread. Here is who is eligible, what the funder actually rewards, and how to write an EOI that earns the invitation to a full proposal.
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