Open Topic (AFWERX SBIR/STTR Phase I) (Discontinued)

AFWERX SBIR Open Topic Program (Phase I) is sponsored by U.S. Air Force (via AFWERX). The AFWERX SBIR Open Topic Program funds small business technology solutions with dual-use commercial and defense applications. Phase I awards are for feasibility studies over a 3-month period, where businesses identify an Air Force end-user and customer.

AFWERX Open Topic SBIR/STTR Program is sponsored by AFWERX, Department of the Air Force. The AFWERX Open Topic SBIR/STTR program seeks dual-use technologies (applicable to both defense and non-defense markets) that have a clear potential to solve a Department of the Air Force (DAF) mission need. It is technology-agnostic, encouraging small businesses to propose R&D solutions across any field that can quickly satisfy a DAF need, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) software. The program operates with various entry points: Phase I for feasibility studies, traditional Phase II for prototype development, and Direct to Phase II (D2P2) for companies with mature technology and existing Air Force customer relationships.

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program (Open Topic) is sponsored by Department of the Air Force (AFWERX). The AFWERX SBIR Open Topic program provides non-dilutive funding to U.S. small businesses for innovative dual-use technologies that address Department of the Air Force mission needs. Companies propose their own technology solutions, and Phase I focuses on customer discovery and validating a mission need, while Phase II involves prototype development. Follow-on funding opportunities like Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) and Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) are available for successful Phase II efforts to help transition and scale solutions.

AFWERX SBIR/STTR (Specific Topic Solicitations) is sponsored by AFWERX, Air Force Research Laboratory. AFWERX, a division of the Air Force Research Laboratory, opens new Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) solicitations. These solicitations fund feasibility studies, prototyping, and technology maturation aligned to Department of the Air Force (DAF) mission needs. While the traditional 'Open Topic' is being replaced by 'Focused Open Topics,' these are mission-driven solicitations addressing specific capability gaps where various solutions can compete. The program emphasizes dual-use technologies with both military and commercial applications. Specific topics include areas like High Temp Semiconductor Transistors for Hot DoW Environments and Electronic Warfare, F-16 Agnostic Rapid Weapons Integration, F-35 Agnostic Rapid Weapons Integration, Dynamic Open Systems Enclave, Automated Lethality, Integrating Neural Architectures for Brain-Inspired AI with Low SWAP, Ultra-Sensitive Quantum Telemetry Receiver, and Cost-Effective Composite Joints with Tailorable Performance and Geometry.

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program - Open Topic is sponsored by Department of the Air Force (managed by AFWERX). The AFWERX SBIR Open Topic program encourages small businesses to propose innovative, dual-use technology solutions that address Department of the Air Force (DAF) mission needs. It provides funding for early-stage R&D (Phase I) and prototype development (Phase II), allowing companies to define their own technology solutions. The program aims to transition commercial technologies into defense applications.