NSF Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program - Environmental Technologies
Quick Facts
- Agency
- National Science Foundation
- Funding
- $275,000 Phase I; up to $1.8M Phase II
- Deadline
- Rolling (Rolling / Open)
- Status
- Active
- Eligibility
- US small businesses
About This Grant
NSF Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program - Environmental Technologies is sponsored by National Science Foundation. Funds innovative R&D in AI, robotics, and autonomous systems for environmental monitoring and disaster response including wildfires. This program should be reviewed carefully against your organization's mission, staffing capacity, timeline, and compliance readiness before you commit resources to a full application. Strong submissions usually translate sponsor priorities into concrete objectives, clear implementation milestones, and measurable public benefit.
For planning purposes, treat rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows as your working submission target unless the sponsor publishes an updated notice. A competitive project plan should include a documented need statement, implementation approach, evaluation framework, risk controls, and a realistic budget narrative. Even when a grant allows broad program design, reviewers still expect credible evidence that the proposed work can be executed within the grant period and with appropriate accountability.
Current published award information indicates $275,000 Phase I; up to $1.8M Phase II Organizations should verify the final funding range, matching requirements, and allowability rules directly in the official opportunity materials before preparing a budget. Finance and program teams should align early so direct costs, indirect costs, staffing assumptions, procurement timelines, and reporting obligations all remain consistent throughout drafting and post-award administration.
Eligibility guidance for this opportunity is: US small businesses If your organization has partnerships, subrecipients, or collaborators, define responsibilities and compliance ownership before submission. Reviewers often look for implementation credibility, so letters of commitment, prior performance evidence, and a clear governance model can materially strengthen the application narrative and reduce concerns about delivery risk.
A practical approach is to begin with a focused readiness review, then build a workback schedule from the sponsor deadline. Confirm required attachments, registration dependencies, and internal approval checkpoints early. This reduces last-minute issues and improves submission quality. For the most accurate requirements, always rely on the official notice and primary source links associated with NSF Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program - Environmental Technologies.
Official Opportunity Details
Extracted from the official opportunity page/RFP to help you evaluate fit faster.
Environmental Technologies Grant – Apply Today | NSF SBIR An official website of the United States government. Check recent critical alerts! _(Last updated 12/22/2025)_ NSF has temporarily paused the submission of new Project Pitches to the SBIR/STTR programs due to the lapse in congressional authorization.
Program Directors will continue to process Project Pitches that were previously received. Please direct any questions to sbir@nsf. gov.
* Proposal Review & Decision * In Partnership with CEP Environmental Technologies (ET) Development of OrganoBait synthetic bait, the NSF-Supported projected from Kepley BioSystems to provide an ocean-restorative alternative bait product Environmental Technologies (ET) Environmental Technologies covers a variety of areas of current and emerging commercial significance including environmental sensing, data, and advanced analytics.
Please highlight any aspects of the proposed technology or approach that address a problem without a current solution, or one which is underdeveloped. ET1. Conservation, Adaptation and Restoration ET2.
Digital Ecosystem for the Environment ET3. Emission or Waste Reduction and the Circular Economy ET4. Food, Regenerative Agriculture, and Energy ET7.
Sustainable Community Systems ET8. Water Treatment, Resilience, and Sanitation ET9. Other Environmental Technologies **Application process** for Environmental Technologies (ET) funding Eligibility for Environmental Technologies (ET) funding + * Your company must be a small business (fewer than 500 employees) located in the United States.
* At least 50% of your company’s equity must be owned by U. S. citizens or permanent residents.
NSF does not fund companies that are majority-owned by multiple venture capital firms, private equity firms, or hedge funds, to participate in SBIR and STTR. * All funded work, including work done by consultants and contractors, needs to take place in the United States. * The project’s principal investigator (tech lead) must be legally employed at least 20 hours a week by the company seeking funding.
The principal investigator doesn’t need any advanced degrees. * The principal investigator needs to commit to at least one month (173 hours) of work on a funded project per six months of project duration.
Evaluation Criteria: What We Look for When Evaluating Environmental Technologies (ET) proposals + * Technological Innovation * Read more about our criteria Take our **project assessment** to see if your work might be a good fit for NSF funding.
### Transforming waste carbon dioxide into useful products Opus 12, a small business funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), created a device that recycles waste carbon dioxide (CO₂) into chemicals and fuels. To learn more visit: https://www. opus-12.
com/ ### ClearFlame Engine Technologies ClearFlame Engine Technologies, a small business funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), has developed a novel engine technology that allows diesel engines to run on any fuel. To learn more visit: https://www. clearflameengines.
com/ ### More featured companies * ClearFlame Engines, Inc. * Precision Polyolefins, LLC * GREENSIGHT AGRONOMICS, INC. Ready to Learn More?
-------------------- We invest up to $2 million in seed funding and take zero equity. We’re looking for companies that are transformative, high-risk, have a market pull, and are scaleable. **Get Started Today** National Science Foundation FIRS: (800) 877-8339 | TDD: (800) 281-8749 For information on waste, fraud and abuse Looking for U.
S. government information and services? **Visit USA.
gov** * Vulnerability disclosure
Eligibility Requirements
- US small businesses
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for NSF Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program - Environmental Technologies?
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: US small businesses Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
What is the typical funding level for NSF Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program - Environmental Technologies?
Current published award information indicates $275,000 Phase I; up to $1.8M Phase II Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
When is the deadline for NSF Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program - Environmental Technologies?
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Related Grants
NSF 25-519: Engineering Design (ED)
NSF 25-519: Engineering Design (ED) is sponsored by National Science Foundation. Supports fundamental research in engineering design methods, tools, and processes, including biomimetic and bio-inspired design systems for industrial applications. This program should be reviewed carefully against your organization's mission, staffing capacity, timeline, and compliance readiness before you commit resources to a full application. Strong submissions usually translate sponsor priorities into concrete objectives, clear implementation milestones, and measurable public benefit. For planning purposes, treat January 16, 2026 as your working submission target unless the sponsor publishes an updated notice. A competitive project plan should include a documented need statement, implementation approach, evaluation framework, risk controls, and a realistic budget narrative. Even when a grant allows broad program design, reviewers still expect credible evidence that the proposed work can be executed within the grant period and with appropriate accountability. Current published award information indicates $200,000 - $1,500,000 Organizations should verify the final funding range, matching requirements, and allowability rules directly in the official opportunity materials before preparing a budget. Finance and program teams should align early so direct costs, indirect costs, staffing assumptions, procurement timelines, and reporting obligations all remain consistent throughout drafting and post-award administration. Eligibility guidance for this opportunity is: Universities, colleges, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status If your organization has partnerships, subrecipients, or collaborators, define responsibilities and compliance ownership before submission. Reviewers often look for implementation credibility, so letters of commitment, prior performance evidence, and a clear governance model can materially strengthen the application narrative and reduce concerns about delivery risk. A practical approach is to begin with a focused readiness review, then build a workback schedule from the sponsor deadline. Confirm required attachments, registration dependencies, and internal approval checkpoints early. This reduces last-minute issues and improves submission quality. For the most accurate requirements, always rely on the official notice and primary source links associated with NSF 25-519: Engineering Design (ED).
NSF 25-558: Environmental Sustainability
NSF 25-558: Environmental Sustainability is sponsored by National Science Foundation. Funds research on sustainable engineering designs, with emphasis on biomimetic approaches mimicking natural systems for industrial efficiency. This program should be reviewed carefully against your organization's mission, staffing capacity, timeline, and compliance readiness before you commit resources to a full application. Strong submissions usually translate sponsor priorities into concrete objectives, clear implementation milestones, and measurable public benefit. For planning purposes, treat February 28, 2026 as your working submission target unless the sponsor publishes an updated notice. A competitive project plan should include a documented need statement, implementation approach, evaluation framework, risk controls, and a realistic budget narrative. Even when a grant allows broad program design, reviewers still expect credible evidence that the proposed work can be executed within the grant period and with appropriate accountability. Current published award information indicates $300,000 - $1,200,000 Organizations should verify the final funding range, matching requirements, and allowability rules directly in the official opportunity materials before preparing a budget. Finance and program teams should align early so direct costs, indirect costs, staffing assumptions, procurement timelines, and reporting obligations all remain consistent throughout drafting and post-award administration. Eligibility guidance for this opportunity is: Academic institutions, nonprofits If your organization has partnerships, subrecipients, or collaborators, define responsibilities and compliance ownership before submission. Reviewers often look for implementation credibility, so letters of commitment, prior performance evidence, and a clear governance model can materially strengthen the application narrative and reduce concerns about delivery risk. A practical approach is to begin with a focused readiness review, then build a workback schedule from the sponsor deadline. Confirm required attachments, registration dependencies, and internal approval checkpoints early. This reduces last-minute issues and improves submission quality. For the most accurate requirements, always rely on the official notice and primary source links associated with NSF 25-558: Environmental Sustainability.
NSF 25-572: Biophotonics
NSF 25-572: Biophotonics is sponsored by National Science Foundation. Funds research at the intersection of photonics and biology, applicable to biomimetic optical systems and industrial design inspired by biological light manipulation. This program should be reviewed carefully against your organization's mission, staffing capacity, timeline, and compliance readiness before you commit resources to a full application. Strong submissions usually translate sponsor priorities into concrete objectives, clear implementation milestones, and measurable public benefit. For planning purposes, treat March 5, 2026 as your working submission target unless the sponsor publishes an updated notice. A competitive project plan should include a documented need statement, implementation approach, evaluation framework, risk controls, and a realistic budget narrative. Even when a grant allows broad program design, reviewers still expect credible evidence that the proposed work can be executed within the grant period and with appropriate accountability. Current published award information indicates $500,000 - $2,000,000 Organizations should verify the final funding range, matching requirements, and allowability rules directly in the official opportunity materials before preparing a budget. Finance and program teams should align early so direct costs, indirect costs, staffing assumptions, procurement timelines, and reporting obligations all remain consistent throughout drafting and post-award administration. Eligibility guidance for this opportunity is: U.S. universities, colleges, nonprofits If your organization has partnerships, subrecipients, or collaborators, define responsibilities and compliance ownership before submission. Reviewers often look for implementation credibility, so letters of commitment, prior performance evidence, and a clear governance model can materially strengthen the application narrative and reduce concerns about delivery risk. A practical approach is to begin with a focused readiness review, then build a workback schedule from the sponsor deadline. Confirm required attachments, registration dependencies, and internal approval checkpoints early. This reduces last-minute issues and improves submission quality. For the most accurate requirements, always rely on the official notice and primary source links associated with NSF 25-572: Biophotonics.