NIH Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR/STTR)

NIH Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR/STTR) is sponsored by National Institutes of Health (NIH). This program funds small businesses developing innovative health technologies including health IT security, AI-powered diagnostics, medical device cybersecurity, and privacy-preserving health data systems.

It’s Official: NIH’s Small Business Program Is Back | Grants & Funding U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health It’s Official: NIH’s Small Business Program Is Back Big news for innovators, founders, and R&D-driven small companies: NIH’s Seed Fund is back in action!

On April 14, NIH’s Seed Fund (Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs) was reauthorized for the next five years. The reauthorization restores momentum, improves the programs, and reopens pathways for both new applicants and currently funded projects.

NIH’s Seed Fund is a cornerstone of biomedical entrepreneurship in the U.S. The SBIR and STTR programs exist to help small businesses develop innovative technologies that improve health and save lives. They do it by supporting the kind of research, development, and validation that can be hard to fund elsewhere.

And, these programs can be a pivotal growth lever whether you are an early-stage small business with a bold idea or an experienced company actively pushing toward commercialization. In the meantime, here is what you can do.

Take advantage of the many resources related to NIH’s small business programs available on our NIH Grants and Funding website , including: Guidance and resources for potential applicants These resources are very helpful for those new to NIH funding, and meant to reduce the time, effort, and potential confusion you may have about application and award processes.

Starting early is more important than ever: late submissions of SBIR or STTR applications will not be accepted (see NOT-OD-26-064 ). Do you have your registrations? One of the most common preventable delays is paperwork - not science.

Before you can apply, businesses must complete multiple registrations , and the process can take 6 weeks or more. If you’re thinking “I’ll handle that later,” consider this your friendly nudge: start early so you’re not racing the clock when the Notices of Funding Opportunity drop. Contact appropriate NIH program staff with questions.

NIH can also resume issuing noncompeting continuation (Type 5) awards. If you have an active project, please remember to speak with your Program Officer. NIH can move forward again with continuation funding for eligible ongoing work.

Please stay tuned as additional information and resources are planned. We look forward to receiving groundbreaking and innovative research ideas from U.S. small businesses that have the potential to improve public health. Small Business (SEED, SBIR/STTR) How Do I Address Potential Foreign Risks in My Small Business Program Application?

The Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act strengthens the government’s ability to prevent adversarial nations from exploiting federally funded technologies. Here we offer a practical guide to help small businesses avoid security risks from foreign countries of concern when applying.

NIH’s Seed Fund is back , with new Small Business program funding available and several upcoming opportunities to help applicants develop strong applications. We also encourage you join us for a live event on June 9 to hear from NIH experts and become familiar with the new opportunities and more. For technical issues E-mail OER Webmaster