SBIR/STTR Direct Financial Assistance Program is sponsored by New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation, and Technology (CSIT). This program offers financial support to New Jersey small businesses seeking to participate in, or currently participating in, the federal SBIR/STTR program.

» SBIR/STTR Direct Financial Assistance Program (Phase 5) SBIR/STTR Direct Financial Assistance Program (Round 5) The CSIT SBIR/STTR Direct Financial Assistance Program is currently paused until further notice. The CSIT SBIR/STTR Direct Financial Assistance Program aims to enhance the innovative economy in NJ through financial support to NJ small businesses seeking to or participating in the federal SBIR/STTR program.

The program has three objectives, which are geared towards accelerating the growth of the innovation economy in the State: Increase the success rate of NJ grant applications seeking federal funding for SBIR/STTR programs Reduce the financial burden for small NJ companies that have won Phase I, Fast Track, or Direct to Phase II Awards/Contracts through the federal SBIR/STTR Program.

Increase success and maximize growth of small NJ companies in moving from Phase I to Phase II of the SBIR/STTR Federal program The CSIT board has approved $875,000 for Round 5 of the SBIR/STTR Direct Financial Assistance Program. Applications will now be accepted on a rolling basis.

The Direct Financial Assistance Grant for Businesses Engaged in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Federal Programs has a total budget of $875,000 and will offer two grant components: $25,000 Direct Funding for SBIR/STTR Phase I, Fast Track or Direct to Phase II award/contract winners (“Direct Funding”). $50,000 Bridge Funding for SBIR/STTR Phase II applicants (“Bridge Funding”).

Applicants to the Round 5, CSIT Direct Financial Assistance SBIR/STTR Program may only apply for one component (either a Direct Funding or Bridge Funding). CSIT reserves the right to reallocate funds between the two components of the Direct Financial Assistance programs.

Direct Funding for SBIR/STTR Phase I, Fast Track or Direct to Phase II Federal Applicants: Phase I of the Federal SBIR/STTR program is intended to establish technical merit, feasibility, and commercial potential of the proposed research and development efforts. Federal Phase I awards normally do not exceed $150,000 in total costs for six months.

To help New Jersey Phase I, Fast Track or Direct to Phase II award/contract winners increase intensity of research, strengthen commercialization plans, cover operational expenses, and become more competitive for Phase II funding, CSIT will provide a grant of $25,000 to New Jersey small businesses that receive a Phase I, Fast Track or Direct to Phase II award/contract.

The grant funding is intended to reduce the financial burden on these growing small businesses and improve their chances of applying and winning Phase II awards. The grant will be flexible to help cover general operational expenses.

Bridge Funding for Phase II Federal Applicants: The gap between application and award notice for Phase II of the Federal SBIR/STTR program can be up to six months and it is during this period that small businesses often struggle to secure funding and maintain operations.

CSIT will offer funding of $50,000 to New Jersey small businesses that have successfully completed Phase I of Federal SBIR/STTR program and have applied for Phase II funding. The funding is intended to enable these businesses to maintain operations while waiting on Phase II awards. Applications will now be accepted on a rolling basis.

Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis. All complete applications that meet the program eligibility criteria and are in compliance with the required documentation will receive awards until the total funding amount is exhausted.

Each approved grant will be valid for a period of 12 months starting from date of the execution of the grant agreement All applicants must meet eligibility criteria at time of application and must maintain eligibility during the period of application review in order to be considered for an award. Eligibility requirements must also be maintained during the grant term for awarded applicants and will be specified in the grant agreement.

Provide a current New Jersey Tax Clearance Certificate listing New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology. All certificates listing another state agency will be rejected. Have a minimum of one full-time employee (working a minimum of 35-hours per week).

A founder can be counted as an employee; an employee may be paid or unpaid. Fifty percent or more of the cumulative hours worked by all employees, founders, and contractors must be conducted in New Jersey (as calculated on an full-time employee basis of 35 hours per week). The primary place of performance on the Federal SBIR/STTR grant or contract award is a New Jersey address.

Be a recipient of a Federal SBIR/STTR Phase I, Fast Track or Direct to Phase II grant or contract award within the last two years prior to the issuance of this Notice of Funding Availability. The applicant cannot have been awarded more than five Federal SBIR/STTR grants or contracts (Phase I, Fast-track, Direct to Phase II combined) throughout the lifetime of the company. Applicants must be in good standing with both DOL and DEP.

As part of the review process, CSIT conducts sister agency checks with the New Jersey Department of Labor (DOL) and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on all completed applications. Provide a current New Jersey Tax Clearance Certificate listing New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology. All certificates listing another state agency will be rejected.

Have a minimum of one full-time employee (working a minimum of 35-hours per week). A founder can be counted as an employee; an employee may be paid or unpaid. Fifty percent or more of the cumulative hours worked by all employees, founders, and contractors must be conducted in New Jersey (as calculated on a full-time employee basis of 35 hours per week).

The primary place of performance on the Federal Phase II SBIR/STTR project submission is a New Jersey address.

Be a previous Federal SBIR/STTR Phase I grant or contract award recipient within the last two years prior to the issuance of this Notice of Funding Availability that has successfully completed a Phase I Federal SBIR/STTR program, submitted a Phase II SBIR/STTR application, and not yet received a Federal response on their Phase II application.

The applicant cannot have been awarded more than five Federal SBIR/STTR grants or contracts (Phase I, Fast-track or Direct to Phase II combined) and four Federal Phase II SBIR/STTR grants or contracts throughout the lifetime of the company. Applicants must be in good standing with both DOL and DEP.

As part of the review process, CSIT conducts sister agency checks with the New Jersey Department of Labor (DOL) and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on all completed applications. Applicants should send a notification to csitsbir@njeda. com if there are any changes to their eligibility status after submission of an application and prior to any award notification.

$25,000 Direct Funding for SBIR/STTR Phase I, Fast Track or Direct to Phase II award/contract winners $50,000 Bridge Funding for SBIR/STTR Phase II applicants 2026 informational webinar slides 2026 INFORMATIONAL WEBINAR notice of funding availability About Federal SBIR/STTR Programs directions for requesting tax clearance certificate