1,000+ Opportunities
Find the right grant
Search federal, foundation, and corporate grants with AI — or browse by agency, topic, and state.
The Small Business Innovation Research program is the largest source of early-stage technology funding in the United States. Since 1982, SBIR has channeled over $60 billion to small businesses building innovations that federal agencies need and markets reward. Eleven agencies participate, each funding technologies aligned with its own mission — from defense systems and biomedical devices to clean energy and agricultural technology.
Unlike venture capital, SBIR grants are non-dilutive. You keep your equity. You own the IP. And the federal government becomes your first customer, not your investor. For technology startups and R&D-driven small businesses, SBIR represents a unique path: prove your concept with government funding, then commercialize on your own terms.
After a five-month lapse when program authorization expired in September 2025, SBIR and STTR were reauthorized through 2031 with significant new provisions — including Strategic Breakthrough Awards up to $30 million and mandatory foreign risk screening. Agencies are now restarting solicitations, making this one of the most important windows for new applicants in years.
| Phase | Purpose | Award Range | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase I | Feasibility & proof of concept | $50,000 – $275,000 | 6–12 months |
| Phase II | Full R&D & prototype development | $750,000 – $1.75M | 2 years |
| Phase III | Commercialization (no SBIR funding) | Follow-on contracts & private investment | Varies |
| Strategic Breakthrough | Post-Phase II acceleration (new in 2026) | Up to $30M | Up to 48 months |
For a detailed walkthrough of each phase, including budget templates and timeline planning, see our Phase I vs Phase II comparison.
| Agency | Annual SBIR Budget | Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | $1.8B+ | Defense tech, cybersecurity, space, autonomous systems |
| NIH (HHS) | $1.2B+ | Biomedical devices, diagnostics, therapeutics, digital health |
| NSF | $250M+ | Deep tech, AI/ML, advanced manufacturing, materials |
| DOE | $350M+ | Clean energy, nuclear, grid modernization, climate tech |
| NASA | $200M+ | Space technology, Earth observation, propulsion, materials |
| USDA | $35M+ | Agricultural technology, food safety, rural development |
| EPA | $15M+ | Environmental monitoring, water treatment, remediation |
| DHS | $30M+ | Homeland security, border tech, first responder tools |
| Dept. of Education | $15M+ | EdTech, assessment tools, learning platforms |
| DOT | $10M+ | Transportation safety, infrastructure, autonomous vehicles |
| NOAA (DOC) | $10M+ | Ocean tech, weather forecasting, fisheries, satellites |
Each agency runs its own solicitation cycle with different topics, formats, and timelines. For agency-specific strategy, see our DoD SBIR guide and NIH SBIR Phase I guide.
For the full eligibility checklist including post-reauthorization changes, read our SBIR eligibility rules for 2026. First-time applicants should start with our complete SBIR application guide.
Browse the open SBIR and STTR opportunities below to find solicitations matching your technology. Each listing includes the funding agency, deadline, award amount, and eligibility details. When you find a match, Granted AI can help you draft your Phase I proposal section by section — from technical approach to commercialization plan — in days instead of months.
Explore our full library of SBIR resources: the SBIR beginner's guide, budget templates, success rates by agency, and commercialization plan examples.
Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I Programs (SBIR/STTR Phase I) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). This program encourages small businesses to develop large language model applications for educational purposes and funds early-stage research and development of unproven, leading-edge technology innovations with significant commercial and societal impact. This includes AI systems and AI-based hardware, emphasizing next-generation AI technologies that are safe, reliable, fair, robust, privacy-preserving, and efficient.
NSF 26-511: Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track Programs: A Pilot Emphasis on Scientific Instrumentation is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). A pilot program emphasizing scientific instrumentation, this NSF SBIR/STTR solicitation offers non-dilutive funding for small businesses developing deep technologies with commercial and societal impact. A Project Pitch is required prior to full proposal submission.
Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track Programs SBIR/STTR: Developing Deep Technologies that Advance U.S. Competitiveness and Security (NSF 26-510) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF SBIR/STTR programs provide non-dilutive funding to U.S.-based startups and small businesses developing high-risk, high-impact technologies with strong commercial potential across nearly all technology areas and market sectors. Companies begin by submitting a required Project Pitch to determine fit with the program before being invited to submit a full proposal.
21 matching grants
DIRECT TO PHASE II: Intelligent Data Analysis of Post-Mission Reporting Artifacts & Data is sponsored by DOD. This DOD opportunity seeks solutions for intelligently analyzing vast amounts of high-quality data collected by the U.S. Navy for training and operational use, addressing challenges in using current AI systems. While this is a Direct to Phase II, it indicates a strong interest in related AI topics.
Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I Programs (SBIR/STTR Phase I) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). This program encourages small businesses to develop large language model applications for educational purposes and funds early-stage research and development of unproven, leading-edge technology innovations with significant commercial and societal impact. This includes AI systems and AI-based hardware, emphasizing next-generation AI technologies that are safe, reliable, fair, robust, privacy-preserving, and efficient.
NSF 26-511: Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track Programs: A Pilot Emphasis on Scientific Instrumentation is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). A pilot program emphasizing scientific instrumentation, this NSF SBIR/STTR solicitation offers non-dilutive funding for small businesses developing deep technologies with commercial and societal impact. A Project Pitch is required prior to full proposal submission.
Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track Programs SBIR/STTR: Developing Deep Technologies that Advance U.S. Competitiveness and Security (NSF 26-510) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF SBIR/STTR programs provide non-dilutive funding to U.S.-based startups and small businesses developing high-risk, high-impact technologies with strong commercial potential across nearly all technology areas and market sectors. Companies begin by submitting a required Project Pitch to determine fit with the program before being invited to submit a full proposal.
Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track Programs SBIR/STTR: Developing Deep Technologies that Advance U.S. Competitiveness and Security is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF SBIR/STTR programs invest in startups and small businesses to turn high-risk, high-impact research into market-ready innovations, focusing on deep technologies that advance U.S. competitiveness and security. These programs fund across nearly all technology areas and market sectors and do not solicit specific technologies or procure goods and services. The program supports research and development (R&D) and emphasizes intellectual merit, broader impacts, and commercial potential. Small businesses can receive non-dilutive funding in phases for feasibility studies, prototype development, and commercialization.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Phase I is sponsored by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA's SBIR program funds small businesses to develop and commercialize innovative environmental technologies. Focus areas include clean and safe water, air quality, land revitalization, homeland security, sustainable materials management/circular economy, safer chemicals, and risk assessment.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Phase I (FY26) is sponsored by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA SBIR program funds small businesses to develop and commercialize innovative environmental technologies in broad focus areas such as clean and safe water, air quality, land revitalization, homeland security, sustainable materials management/circular economy, safer chemicals, and risk assessment.
Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Joint Warfighter Medical Research Program (JWMRP) Military Medical Research and Development Award (MMRDA) mechanism is intended to fund the logical continuation of previous Department of War (DOW)-funded research and development efforts relevant to the FY26 JWMRP that augment and accelerate high-priority medical requirements to meet the needs of Service Members and other Military Health System beneficiaries. The MMRDA supports a wide range of research projects spanning late-stage preclinical studies, late-state technology development efforts, technology demonstration, translational, and clinical research. Projects must be relevant to at least one of the FY26 JWMRP focus areas.Distinctive Features:To be eligible for JWMRP funding, applicants/offerors must have already received DOD/DOW core or DOD/DOW Congressional Special Interest funding.An MMRDA Clinical Research or Clinical Trial Option (MMRDA-CRCTO) is available to specifically support clinical research/observational studies, all phases of clinical trials/interventional studies, and/or correlative studies in support of the development of promising pharmaceutical or biologic candidates, medical devices and technologies. Applicants/offerors should select MMRDA-CRCTO when the application/proposal involves research that includes any human subjects, human biological samples (prospective or retrospective) or human data sets. Note: If selecting this option, applicants must submit additional relevant application/proposal materials. Funding Opportunity Number: HT942526JWMRPMMRDA. Assistance Listing: 12.420. Funding Instrument: CA,G,O,PC. Category: ST. Award Amount: $8.8M total program funding.
Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs Phase II (USDA-NIFA-SBIR-012221) is sponsored by National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA). The USDA SBIR/STTR programs support scientific excellence and technological innovation in the private sector, strengthening the role of small business in meeting federal research and development needs and increasing the commercial application of federally supported research results, specifically in agriculture.
The FY22 TERP CTA is intended to support the rapid implementation of clinical trials with the potential to have a significant impact on the prevention, treatment, or management of symptoms, diseases, or conditions associated with or resulting from toxic exposures. To meet the intent of the award mechanism, applications must address at least one of the FY22 TERP Programmatic Goals and at least one of the FY22 TERP Topic Areas.Proposed projects may range from small proof-of-concept clinical trials (e.g., pilot, first-in-human, phase 0) designed to demonstrate feasibility or inform the design of more advanced trials, through large-scale trials to determine efficacy in relevant patient populations. Clinical trials may be designed to evaluate promising new products, pharmacologic agents (drugs or biologics), devices, clinical guidance, and/or emerging approaches and technologies. It is anticipated that outcomes from studies funded by this award will follow a clinical development plan that advances the research to FDA device or drug approval and/or establishment of clinical practice guidelines, as applicable.Applications to the TERP CTA mechanism must support a clinical trial and may not be used for animal or preclinical research studies. The application will be withdrawn if the proposed research is not a clinical trial. Funding Opportunity Number: W81XWH-22-TERP-CTA. Assistance Listing: 12.420. Funding Instrument: CA,G. Category: ST. Award Amount: $8.8M total program funding.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program (DoD) is sponsored by U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). The DoD SBIR program funds U.S. small businesses to develop innovative technologies, including AI, to advance national security. It supports research and development efforts structured in three phases, with Phase I focusing on scientific and technical merit and feasibility.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program, Phase I (ACL) is sponsored by Administration for Community Living (ACL), National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). This program stimulates technological innovation in the private sector and strengthens the role of small businesses in federal research and development. The goal is to improve the lives of people with disabilities through R&D products generated by small businesses and to increase the commercial application of NIDILRR-supported research. Phase I grants determine scientific or technical merit and feasibility.
TechConnect Critical Technology Challenge: Artificial Intelligence is a grant from TechConnect, in partnership with various federal agencies, that funds innovative AI and digital transformation solutions aligned with U.S. national security, societal, and economic priorities. The program is an extension of TechConnect's 25-year Innovation Challenge and provides participants with the opportunity to pitch to key industry, government, and investment decision-makers at a global conference (June 9-11, 2025 in Austin, TX). Participants gain direct access to leadership representing over billion in annual emerging technology funding through SBIR and Other Transaction Authority mechanisms. Eligible applicants include small businesses, university spin-offs, and independent innovators. Awards range from ,000 to ,000. The application deadline is December 15, 2026.
The Genesis Mission is sponsored by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Technology Commercialization. This funding opportunity, part of the DOE's SBIR and STTR Phase I programs, is specifically aimed at small businesses to join the Genesis Mission. It focuses on four areas: scaling biotechnology, leveraging AI for quantum computing and networking, designing materials with predictable functionality, and achieving AI-driven autonomous laboratories.
Clinical Evidence Synthesis Transformation Challenge is sponsored by Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). This is a two-phase AI competition focusing on medical evidence reviews. It aims to reduce analysis times for medical evidence from a year or longer to hours, with judging based on accuracy, throughput, reproducibility, usability, and ease of operation.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grant Applications for the modification or development of new screening technologies for mild hearing loss in infants and young children is sponsored by National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grant Applications for the modification or development of new screening technologies for mild hearing loss in infants and young children is sponsored by National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (…
NIH Small Business Technology Transfer Grant (Parent STTR [R41/R42] Clinical Trial Optional) is sponsored by National Institutes of Health (NIH). This is a parent announcement for STTR grants, offering non-dilutive funding for early-stage research and development for small businesses. Similar to SBIR, small businesses with research in addiction recovery workforce peer support training could explore this opportunity.
One North Carolina Small Business Program - Matching Funds is sponsored by North Carolina Department of Commerce. The Matching Funds component of the One North Carolina Small Business Program awards state funds to North Carolina small businesses that have already secured a federal Phase I SBIR/STTR award. This funding allows companies to enhance their Phase I research to be more competitive for Phase II funding.
NASA SBIR/STTR Broad Agency Announcement 80NSSC26R0003 for AI, Machine Learning, Autonomy and Robotics Technologies is sponsored by U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). NASA's restructured SBIR/STTR program, under Broad Agency Announcement 80NSSC26R0003, offers funding for AI, machine learning, autonomy, and robotics technologies. This program supports innovations for space exploration, cybersecurity, data systems for aerospace missions, and other relevant areas.
Development of Psychosocial Therapeutic and Preventive Interventions for Mental Disorders (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Required) is sponsored by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institutes of Health (NIH). This funding opportunity supports early-stage, clinically grounded research to create and refine new psychosocial interventions and prevention strategies for mental disorders, with a required clinical trial component. It emphasizes an experimental therapeutics approach, focusing on clearly defined intervention targets and demonstrating target engagement in relation to clinical outcomes. The R61 phase provides up to two years for preliminary testing of target engagement, and the R33 phase provides up to three additional years to replicate target engagement and test its association with changes in clinical outcomes.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase IIB Strategic Breakthrough Award (Parent [R44] Clinical Trial Optional) is sponsored by National Institutes of Health (NIH). This is a parent announcement for SBIR Phase IIB grants. While not exclusively AI-focused, NIH SBIR programs support small businesses developing promising technologies and products that align with their mission to improve health and save lives. This can include AI-driven solutions in healthcare.
Use our free grant finder to search active federal funding opportunities by agency, eligibility, and deadline.
Get a free Grant Score and see how well your organization matches grants like this one.
On September 22, 2026, SBA awarded more than $8 million through the Federal and State Technology Partnership Program — 50 organizations, up to $180,000 each, 43 renewals and only 7 newcomers, performance beginning September 30. FAST is not a grant you apply for. It is a subsidy for the proposal help you are currently paying for, and the statutory match tiers explain why the strongest innovation states keep losing coverage.
Read articleNIFA posted USDA-NIFA-SBIR-012221 on October 1 with $24.75 million, awards of $600,000 to $650,000, and a November 17 close. The 50% rate is real, and the same-topic-area rule is why.
Read articleOn September 2, 2026, SBA published an updated commercialization benchmark: firms with more than 25 Phase II awards in five years must derive at least 33 percent of total revenue from non-SBIR sources in FY2027, and 50 percent from FY2028 onward. It takes effect November 15, 2026. Because the measurement window looks backward three completed fiscal years, the first test is already decided — and the second is two-thirds decided. Here is the arithmetic, the history, and what firms near the line should do.
Read articleOSW26BZ06-DV033 pays up to $1,500,000 over 24 months for agentic AI cognitive radar. But TS/SCI is gating, polygraphs must finish in 90 days, foreign nationals are barred even from unclassified work, and your feasibility evidence cannot come from prior SBIR funding. Here is how to read a security-gated SBIR before the October 21 deadline.
Read articleNSF's $20 million Commercialization Readiness Pilot, announced September 14, 2026 and led by UCF's National Commercialization and Translation Institute, will give six to eight Phase II and IIB deep-tech firms milestone awards of $1 million to $3.75 million. Roughly one in ten NSF Phase IIB alumni will get a seat. Here is how the selection logic actually works.
Read articleNSF's restarted SBIR/STTR program carries two transition rules almost nobody has calendared. Project Pitch invitations issued on or after July 3, 2025 must be converted to a full proposal by November 4, 2026. Phase I awardees whose awards started on or after November 6, 2023 must submit Phase II by the same date. Both cohorts were created by the program lapse, and both cliffs are hard.
Read article