Innovation Matching Grants Program (Round 5) is sponsored by Empire State Development (NYSTAR). Provides matching grants to New York-based small businesses that have received funding from federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.

Innovation Matching Grants Program | Empire State Development Innovation Matching Grants Program Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology, and Innovation (“NYSTAR”), Innovation Matching Grants (IMG) Program aims to grow small businesses and support the development of new technologies in New York State by providing matching funds for federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants.

The New York State Innovation Matching Grants Program will match: The award for Phase I applicants, not to exceed $100,000 The award for Phase II applicants, not to exceed $200,000 and provide technical assistance resources for Phase II and Phase III awards. In no event, shall the funding provided from the IMG Program exceed 50% of the federal award.

Eligible applicants must: Be a small business as defined by New York State Economic Development Law Section 131 . This includes businesses that are: resident in New York State; independently owned and operated, not dominant in their field; and employing 100 or less persons.

Actively in the process of applying for a Phase I or Phase II SBIR or STTR award from a participating federal agency or have received an SBIR/STTR award since the closing date of previous announced round or 12 months, whichever is less. Currently operate their business in New York.

Note: IMG Program grant recipients must remain headquartered and operate or manufacture in New York State for at least two years following the successful commercialization of the IMG Program grant recipient’s product or products. Any IMG Program grant recipient that does not do so shall return all IMG Program grant funds to NYSTAR.

If the IMG Program grant recipient ceases operations before five years, such IMG Program grant recipient shall be eligible for a waiver of this claw back provision, as determined by NYSTAR, in consultation with Empire State Development’s division for small business.

IMG Program grant funds shall be used to expedite commercialization and generally used to cover expenses not allowed under SBIR or STTR, including but not limited to business planning, commercialization, patents, and marketing studies in sales efforts. Please review before applying: Program Guidelines - updated 9/11/25 *A single business may only submit one application per round.

A business may not apply for a Phase I or Phase II award for which they have already received any IMG Program matching grant. * Rounds for the Innovation Matching Grants Program will open at 9:00am on the 2nd Wednesday in October & April. Rounds will remain open for 1 week, closing the following Tuesday at 5:00pm.

Applications are digital, and a link will be provided to the application when the round opens. The Innovation Matching Grants Program portfolio includes all who received an award or commitment letter and were listed in our press release at the time of the round. Awards are conditioned on the successful SBIR/STTR federal award and negotiation and execution of a Grant Disbursement Agreement.

Addinex Technologies, Inc. Additive / Manufacturing Technologies Other Artificial Intelligence Sensors Energy Systems Renewables / Clean / Green Technologies Lifesciences / Biotechnology Wearable Devices Artificial Intelligence Lifesciences / Biotechnology Sensors Albacore Ocean Systems LLC Additive / Manufacturing Technologies Robotics / Co-bots Artificial Intelligence Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) / Drones Energy Systems Sensors Communications Energy Storage / Battery Technology Renewables / Clean / Green Technologies ANDRO Computational Solutions, LLC Artificial Intelligence Communications Anew Material (previously Keratin Nails LLC) Additive / Manufacturing Technologies Renewables / Clean / Green Technologies Materials Lifesciences / Biotechnology Lifesciences / Biotechnology Lifesciences / Biotechnology Semiconductors / Nanotechnology / Nanoelectronics Space Technology Sensors Semiconductors / Nanotechnology / Nanoelectronics Space Technology Communications Artificial Intelligence Renewables / Clean / Green Technologies Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) / Drones Advanced Photovoltaics Semiconductors / Nanotechnology / Nanoelectronics Additive / Manufacturing Technologies Lifesciences / Biotechnology Renewables / Clean / Green Technologies Lifesciences / Biotechnology Food or Agriculture Technology Materials Lifesciences / Biotechnology Lifesciences / Biotechnology Semiconductors / Nanotechnology / Nanoelectronics Renewables / Clean / Green Technologies Materials Artificial Intelligence Wearable Devices Sensors Lifesciences / Biotechnology Cell or Gene Therapy Vaccines Additive / Manufacturing Technologies Lifesciences / Biotechnology Lifesciences / Biotechnology Artificial Intelligence Lifesciences / Biotechnology Sensors Renewables / Clean / Green Technologies Robotics / Co-bots DirectSeq Biosciences, Inc. Artificial Intelligence Lifesciences / Biotechnology Sensors Artificial Intelligence Food or Agriculture Technology Energy Systems Smart Grid Empath Medical Innovations (EMI), Inc Lifesciences / Biotechnology Cell or Gene Therapy Lifesciences / Biotechnology Lifesciences / Biotechnology Robotics / Co-bots ESM Global Productions, LLC Lifesciences / Biotechnology Gallox Semiconductors Inc. Materials Semiconductors / Nanotechnology / Nanoelectronics Graphenix Development, Inc. Energy Storage / Battery Technology Renewables / Clean / Green Technologies Materials Lifesciences / Biotechnology Additive / Manufacturing Technologies Artificial Intelligence Other Energy Storage / Battery Technology Materials Additive / Manufacturing Technologies Artificial Intelligence Lifesciences / Biotechnology Lifesciences / Biotechnology IVSonance Biomedical Inc. Lifesciences / Biotechnology Gaming Augmented Realty/Virtual Reality Artificial Intelligence Renewables / Clean / Green Technologies Robotics / Co-bots Renewables / Clean / Green Technologies Materials Food or Agriculture Technology Sensors Lifesciences / Biotechnology Artificial Intelligence Energy Storage / Battery Technology Artificial Intelligence Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) / Drones Sensors Artificial Intelligence Lifesciences / Biotechnology Other Lifesciences / Biotechnology Manhattan BioSolutions, Inc. Lifesciences / Biotechnology Millennial Materials and Devices Inc. (dba Millennial Scientific) Additive / Manufacturing Technologies Lifesciences / Biotechnology Materials Energy Systems Renewables / Clean / Green Technologies Renewables / Clean / Green Technologies Food or Agriculture Technology Lifesciences / Biotechnology Energy Storage / Battery Technology Artificial Intelligence Augmented Realty/Virtual Reality Artificial Intelligence Augmented Realty/Virtual Reality Cell or Gene Therapy Lifesciences / Biotechnology Sensors Lifesciences / Biotechnology Other Semiconductors / Nanotechnology / Nanoelectronics Energy Storage / Battery Technology Smart Grid Semiconductors / Nanotechnology / Nanoelectronics Energy Systems Renewables / Clean / Green Technologies NomoCan Pharmaceuticals, LLC Lifesciences/Biotechnology Pharmacoustics Technologies, LLC Lifesciences / Biotechnology Sensors Additive / Manufacturing Technologies Photonect Interconnect Solutions Inc. Semiconductors / Nanotechnology / Nanoelectronics Quantum PlasmaChem Solutions Inc. Energy Systems Hydrogen Fuel Cells & Hydrogen Distribution Renewables / Clean / Green Technologies Potsdam Sensors LLC (Full owned by TelosAir Corp) Sensors Lifesciences / Biotechnology Proactive Life Inc (DBA SleepSpace) Lifesciences / Biotechnology Artificial Intelligence Sensors Artificial Intelligence Lifesciences / Biotechnology Lifesciences / Biotechnology Renewables / Clean / Green Technologies Artificial Intelligence Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) / Drones Renewables / Clean / Green Technologies Food or Agriculture Technology Materials Artificial Intelligence Smart Grid Additive / Manufacturing Technologies Materials Renewables / Clean / Green Technologies Advanced Photovoltaics Smart Grid Additive / Manufacturing Technologies Energy Systems Lifesciences / Biotechnology Artificial Intelligence Lifesciences / Biotechnology Cell or Gene Therapy Sensors Additive / Manufacturing Technologies Lifesciences / Biotechnology Lifesciences / Biotechnology Food or Agriculture Technology Lifesciences / Biotechnology Artificial Intelligence Sensors Lifesciences / Biotechnology Sensors Renewables / Clean / Green Technologies Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) / Drones Semiconductors / Nanotechnology / Nanoelectronics Semiconductors / Nanotechnology / Nanoelectronics Lifesciences / Biotechnology Lifesciences / Biotechnology 4/8/26 - Empire State Development Announces More Than $3 Million In NYSTAR Innovation Matching Grants Awarded To 28 Small Businesses 9/17/25 - Empire State Development Announces More Than $3 Million Awarded to Support Small Businesses Through NYSTAR’s Innovation Matching Grants Program 11/15/24 - Empire State Development Announces More Than $4M Awarded To Small Businesses Through NYSTAR’s Innovation Matching Grants Program NYSTAR 2024 Annual Report For more information, contact: [email protected]