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Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program - Robotics (R) Topic is a grant from National Science Foundation (NSF) that funds small businesses developing innovative robotics technologies.
Focus areas include robot intelligence, human assistive technologies, bio-related robotics, human-machine interfaces, agile manufacturing, underground/underwater robotics, and healthcare applications such as surgical tools, exoskeletons, and personal care robots. NSF invests up to $2 million in seed funding with zero equity taken.
Eligible applicants must be US-based small businesses with fewer than 500 employees and at least 50% equity owned by US citizens or permanent residents. All funded work must occur in the United States. The principal investigator must be employed at least 20 hours per week by the applying company.
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Robotics Grant – Apply Today | NSF SBIR Check recent critical alerts! (Last updated 4/16/2026) NSF will resume the submission of new Project Pitches to the SBIR/STTR programs in the coming weeks. Program Directors will continue to process Project Pitches that were previously received.
Please direct any questions to sbir@nsf. gov . SynTouch LLC BioTac Toccare provides tactile evaluations that are consistent, quantifiable, and reflective of human perceptions.
The Robotics topic covers robot intelligence and experiential learning, particularly in the areas of high-performance processors or hardware that provides situational awareness and improved artificial intelligence. Innovations in voice, obstacle and image recognition, emotional response and hand-eye coordination are encouraged.
We encourage proposals describing projects that borrow features from other animal nervous systems and include biologists, neuroscientists and psychologists on their team to exploit new knowledge in the study of the brain and behavior.
NSF also seeks proposals that address next-generation automation; the flexible and rapid reconfiguration of assembly lines allowing mass customization; the use of advanced control, scheduling, modularization, and decentralization with agile, mobile robotic systems that can enable the cost-effective manufacture of small lot-size products; and on-demand parts manufacturing.
Proposals to support the physical and educational needs of individuals with disabilities (e.g., vision, hearing, cognitive, motor related) are sought. Robotic applications in healthcare, smart drones and drone networks are appropriate.
Medical devices focused on providing new capabilities to doctors including surgery; robotic exoskeletons to enhance human strength; personal robots with an emphasis on human-centered end use and interaction, personal caregiving and increased autonomy; future of work; flying taxis; reverse engineering the human brain; robot sense, motion, thought, and emotion; human-robot art; and robots of augmentation are welcome.
Subtopics are not aimed at supporting or conducting clinical trials, clinical efficacy or safety studies, the development pre-clinical or clinical-stage drug candidates or medical devices, or work performed primarily for regulatory purposes. Limited studies with human subjects may be acceptable to the extent that they are performed in support of feasibility, such as proof-of-concept studies of early-stage technologies.
Proposals that request support for clinical studies will be deemed noncompliant with the SBIR/STTR solicitations and returned without review. R1. Human Assistive Technologies and Bio-related Robotics R2.
Human-Machine Interfaces and Control/Architecture R4. Robotics in Agile Manufacturing, and Co-Robots R5. Underground or Underwater Robotics for Low-Visibility, Poor-Connectivity or Hidden Topography R6.
Other Robotics Technologies Application process for Robotics (R) funding Eligibility for Robotics (R) 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 Robotics (R) proposals + Take our project assessment to see if your work might be a good fit for NSF funding.
Robot quickly picks and places orders Righthand Robotics, a small business funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), is developing a robot that can pick and place thousands of products. To learn more visit: https://www. righthandrobotics.
com/ Blue River Technology Inc 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.
Scoring criteria used to review proposals for this grant.
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Small businesses (fewer than 500 employees) located in the United States, with at least 50% equity owned by U. S. citizens or permanent residents. All funded work must take place in the United States. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates $305K + $1.25M+ in follow-on funding Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
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.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
Yes — AI tools like Granted can help research funders, draft proposal sections, and check compliance. However, always review and customize AI-generated content to reflect your organization's unique strengths and the specific requirements of the solicitation.
Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.
Past winners and funding trends for this program
Agricultural Technologies (AG) - NSF SBIR/STTR is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). The Agricultural Technologies topic supports innovations enabling farm production ecosystems that support the proper utilization of natural resources. Such technologies may encompass systems-level and multidisciplinary solutions to enable complex agricultural practices that support increased biodiversity balanced with yield production. Sub-topics include food waste mitigation, resilient supply & distribution, and other agricultural technologies.
Fire Science Innovations through Research and Education (FIRE) program is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). This program invites innovative multidisciplinary and multisector investigations focused on convergent research and education activities in wildland fire. It supports research that can inform risk management and response, adaptation, and resilience across infrastructures, communities, cultures, and natural environments. Relevant topics include developing novel materials and methods for retrofitting existing buildings and remediating buildings following wildfire and smoke events.
NSF ADVANCE program is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF ADVANCE program aims to broaden the implementation of evidence-based systemic change strategies that promote equity for STEM faculty in academic workplaces and the academic profession. The program provides grants to enhance systemic factors that support equity and inclusion and to mitigate systemic factors that create inequities in the academic profession and workplaces.
Note: Each funding opportunity description is a synopsis of information in the Federal Register application notice. For specific information about eligibility, please see the official application notice. The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html. Please review the official application notice for pre-application and application requirements, application submission information, performance measures, priorities and program contact information. Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to stimulate technological innovation in the private sector, strengthen the role of small business in meeting Federal research or research and development (R/R&D) needs, increase the commercial application of the U.S. Department of Education (Department) supported research results, and improve the return on investment from federally funded research for economic and social benefits to the Nation. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.133S-1. If you choose to submit your application electronically, you must use the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at http://www.Grants.gov. Through this site, you will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit your application. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us. You may access the electronic grant application for the SBIR Program at: http://www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable application package for this competition by the CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g. , search for 84.133, not 84.133S). The telephone number for the Grants.gov Helpdesk is 1-800-518-4726 or e-mail: support@grants.gov. Funding Opportunity Number: ED-GRANTS-090908-001. Assistance Listing: 84.133. Funding Instrument: G. Category: ED. Award Amount: Up to $75K per award.
NIST invites applications for a program involving technical and business engagement activities directed at small businesses participating in NISTs Small Business Innovation Research Program. The TCAP recipient will provide NIST SBIR Phase I and/or Phase II recipients with technical and business expertise and resources to identify optimum pathways to promote successful transition of the Phase I and/or Phase II results to commercialization. Funding Opportunity Number: 2014-NIST-SBIR-02. Assistance Listing: 11.620. Funding Instrument: CA. Category: ST.
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant applications from small business concerns (SBCs) for funding to perform research leading to the development of innovative technologies that may advance progress for early detection and assessment of individuals at risk and for early diagnosis, prognosis and follow-up of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Funding Opportunity Number: RFA-DK-15-024. Assistance Listing: 93.847. Funding Instrument: G. Category: FN,HL. Award Amount: $2M total program funding.