Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs FY25 Phase I Release 2 (DE-FOA-0003504) is sponsored by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO). This program supports small businesses in research and development relevant to the Water Power Technologies Office, including hydropower and marine energy. It's designed to advance cutting-edge technology and foster innovation.

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs | Department of Energy Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs Watch the recording of a September 2023 webinar from WPTO to learn how SBIR and STTR funding can help bring concepts to market.

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs offer competitively awarded grants to small businesses to support scientific excellence and technological innovation.

Increasing private sector commercialization of technology developed through federally supported research and development (R&D) Stimulating technological innovation in the private sector Encouraging participation by women-owned and minority-owned small businesses Improving the return on investment from federally funded research for economic and social benefits to the nation.

WPTO SBIR and STTR Topics for FY25 Phase I In FY25, WPTO seeks SBIR and STTR applications related to both hydropower and marine energy technologies in nine topics. Full topic descriptions are available in the Phase I Release 2 Topics document .

These topics are: Municipal and Industrial Conduit Hydropower The topic seeks innovative technologies and approaches to expedite the deployment of conduit hydropower in municipal and industrial systems.

These applications leverage excess pressure within existing or new piped water systems to produce local, renewable electricity that can improve the energy resilience of water distribution, wastewater treatment, and thermoelectric cooling systems, among others.

Innovations in Data Collection, Analytics, Models, and Tools (Energy-Water Nexus Crosscut) State-of-the-art data collection, analytics, models, and tools are required to help solve design challenges for hydropower projects, make maintenance decisions, and develop new operating regimes.

This topic seeks innovative approaches in water-related data and models that could open new areas of opportunity and bring greater efficiencies or capabilities to hydropower applications.

Pumped Storage Hydropower Innovative Concepts This topic seeks proposals for innovative technologies to accelerate the deployment of pumped storage hydropower (PSH) through improved PSH components or alternative/unconventional PSH configurations that reduce PSH costs and/or improve the value of PSH systems.

Co-Development of Marine Energy Technologies This topic seeks proposals for the development and design of new marine energy prototypes specific to the needs of an identified end user in the blue economy. Applicants may be technology developers and/or end users.

Development of Standardized Modular Power Electronics for Grid-Compatible Marine Energy Systems The integration of marine energy into existing power grids faces significant challenges due to the lack of standardized power electronics that can meet grid connection requirements, particularly for variable renewable energy sources.

This topic aims to develop a modular and standardized power electronics architecture with design specifications that can be adapted to various marine energy converters, such as wave and tidal energy devices.

Advances in Overtopping Wave Energy Converters for Coastal Structures Wave energy converters can be integrated with existing or new coastal protection structures such as breakwaters, seawalls, and harbors to generate power while avoiding the complex environmental and operational risks of offshore marine energy deployment.

This topic focuses on overtopping devices that typically harness energy through the run-up of a wave onto a coastal structure to fill a reservoir that empties through a low-head turbine (or a set of turbines).

Next-Generation Tidal and River Current Energy Technologies for Arctic/Alaskan Communities This topic focuses on the development of reliable, resilient, and cost-effective tidal-stream and river current technologies tailored to the unique challenges of remote, high-latitude, arctic environments.

The goal is to encourage new designs that address the harsh environmental challenges of the Arctic while creating robust, modular, and scalable solutions for remote community energy systems.

Feasibility of Co-Locating Wave Energy and Offshore Wind Combining multiple renewable energy technologies, such as including wave energy on an offshore wind farm, may reduce costs of electricity generation due to shared ocean space and the ability to leverage existing infrastructure for deployments (e.g., cables). This topic seeks applications that can demonstrate the feasibility of co-locating offshore wind and wave energy.

Hydropower and Marine Energy Topic (STTR only) This topic seeks hydropower technologies, including small hydropower and low-impact hydropower growth, and new technology development for both existing water infrastructure and new stream-reach applications that incorporate ecological and social objectives.

It also seeks marine energy technologies, including tidal, current, and wave energy systems as well as ocean thermal energy conversion, suitable for microgrids and remote, islanded, and isolated communities. Learn More About SBIR/STTR Differences in SBIR & STTR SBIR and STTR offer zero cost-share grants through a three-phased approach focused on products and services with commercial potential.

However, there are several key differences between the programs: - STTR projects require the small business to be teamed with a non-profit research institution such as a university or federal laboratory. - STTR is focused on technology transfer from the Research Institution (RI) to the small business, and then ultimately to the market.

This has been expanded over time to include situations where the innovation belongs to the small business, but the firm wants to include important resources from a nonprofit RI in the technology’s development. - SBIR project principal investigators (PIs) must be primarily employed at the small business, meaning that he or she cannot work full time elsewhere during the project period.

With a STTR project, the PI could be primarily employed at either the RI or the small business. For-profit company operating in U.S. At least 51% owned and controlled by U.S. individuals. No more than 500 employees, including affiliates.

Principal investigator (PI) must have primary employment with business. Eligible small businesses can be owned by venture capital (VC), hedge funds (HF), and or private equity (PE) only if no one firm owns more than 50%. 67% (or 2/3) of Phase I and 50% of Phase II work must be completed by the small business.

For-profit company operating in U.S. At least 51% owned and controlled by U.S. individuals. No more than 500 employees, including affiliates. PI need not be employed by business.

Non-profit research institution must be located in U.S. and defined as one of the following: Non-profit college or university Domestic nonprofit research organization Federally funded R&D center. 40% of work must be done by business and 30% by the research institution. A written IP agreement must be in place between the research institution and the small business at the time of application.

Phases, Funding Levels, and Timetables Phase I: An SBIR-STTR Phase I Award establishes the technical merit, feasibility, and commercial potential of the proposed R&D efforts, and determines the quality of performance of the small business awardee prior to providing further federal support. EERE Phase I grants are worth $200k and last up to 12 months.

Phase II, Initial & Sequential (A & B): An SBIR-STTR Phase II award continues the R&D efforts initiated in Phase I. The results achieved in Phase I, the scientific and technical merit, and the commercial potential determine whether a Phase II application is funded. Only Phase I awardees are eligible for a Phase II award.

EERE Phase II grants can be worth $1. 1-$1. 6M with a two-year performance period.

Initial Phase II awards are made the year following the Phase I. Sequential Phase II (A & B) are awarded in the year following the end of the Initial Phase II. Phase II A awards are made so that there is no gap between the end of the Initial Phase II and the start of the Phase II A.

Phase II B awards can be made so that they immediately follow the Initial Phase II or can be made one year after the end of the Phase II award. EERE does not make Sequential Phase II A awards, which continue research only—but does make some commercialization-focused Sequential Phase II B grants. Phase III awards allow the small business to pursue commercialization objectives resulting from the Phase I/II R&D activities.

WPTO, or any Energy Department program other than SBIR, may award non-competitive, follow-on grants or contracts for products or processes that meet the mission needs of those agencies, or for further R&D. Only U.S. small businesses are eligible to participate in the SBIR program.

An SBIR/STTR awardee must meet the following criteria at the time of Phase I and Phase II awards: Be independently owned and operated Have its principal place of business in the United States Be a small business with 500 or fewer employees, including affiliates Phase I awardees with multiple prior awards must meet the benchmark requirements for progress toward commercialization Present ideas that align with EERE’s mission to lead Energy Department efforts to develop and deliver market-driven solutions for energy-saving homes, buildings, and manufacturing; sustainable transportation; and renewable electricity generation.

Click here for more information on the process for registration completion and application submission. If a minority-owned or women-owned small business, or a small business from an under-represented state is applying for an SBIR grant for the first time, there may be potential to get assistance with completing a Phase I application through the Energy Department’s Phase 0 Assistance Program .

Frequently Asked Questions Q: We are wondering if our project would be an appropriate fit for this funding opportunity. A: We do not address or answer questions on specific projects and companies outside of the funding opportunity announcement process . Q: When is are applications for SBIR/STTR funding due?

A: Please see here for the most up to date deadlines . Q: We are first time applicants and are unfamiliar with the application process and are looking for resources to assist in preparing an application. / We have previously submitted unsuccessful applications and are looking for resources to assist in preparing our application.

Are there resources available to assist with the application process? A: First time applicants are eligible for SBIR Phase 0 through Dawnbreaker and can view additional resources here . The Water Power Technologies Office has also funded American Made Network Power Connectors who provide mentorship and guidance to all SBIR applicants.

More details can be found here . Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Program