NIST Small Business Innovation Research Program

Washington State Microenterprise Association (WSMA) Grant is sponsored by Washington State Department of Commerce. This grant is intended to support small and micro businesses with training, technical assistance, and financing tools to help them grow, stimulate innovation, create social inclusion, and advance sustainability principles. Priority is given to specific sectors including Clean Materials & Clean Tech and Small Scale Manufacturing.

ACCEL-KS Kansas SBIR/STTR Matching Program is a state grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce providing up to $250,000 to Kansas-based businesses and early-stage companies that have received federal SBIR or STTR awards. The program accelerates the commercialization of innovative research and technology by supplementing federal Phase I and Phase II awards with state matching funds. Eligible applicants include businesses, researchers, and early-stage companies operating in Kansas that hold qualifying federal SBIR or STTR awards. The program helps Kansas innovators advance technology from research to market.

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.

Vinnova, Sweden's national innovation agency, funds projects developing applied AI solutions for Swedish industry through its Advanced Digitalization Programme. Each project can apply for between 2 and 10 million SEK (approximately $190,000 to $950,000 USD) covering up to 50% of eligible project costs. The total call budget is 60 million SEK. Projects run for 12-24 months and focus on two key areas: Intelligent Edge (AI for real-time application in the sensor chain) and AI-based decision support. All projects must address industrial needs and integrate gender equality and climate change perspectives. Scientific publications must be open access. A parallel call also funds AI and cybersecurity projects at 1-10 million SEK per project with a 50 million SEK total budget.