Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) / Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track Programs: A Pilot Emphasis on Scientific Instrumentation

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) / Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track Programs: A Pilot Emphasis on Scientific Instrumentation is sponsored by U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). This NSF SBIR/STTR pilot emphasis area invests in startups and small businesses developing next-generation instrumentation, novel experimental platforms, and other scientific equipment to advance scientific discovery, including those enabling AI-driven discoveries.

Opportunity Listing - Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track Programs (SBIR/STTR): A Pilot Emphasis on Scientific Instrumentation. Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track Programs (SBIR/STTR): A Pilot Emphasis on Scientific Instrumentation. Agency: U.S. National Science Foundation Assistance Listings: 47.

084 -- NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships Last Updated: May 23, 2026 View version history on Grants. gov NSF invests in scientific discoveries, technological breakthroughs, and transformative innovations that strengthen economic growth, enhance security, and improve the lives of Americans and people around the world.

Our ability to support that mission requires a robust scientific and engineering (S&E) enterprise in the United States that allows scientists to innovate at the frontier. In addition to funding scientists, America needs next-generation scientific instrumentation that allows scientists to pursue new innovations. In many fields, it is critical that this new scientific instrumentation...

is developed in the United States.

In support of this mission, NSF is initiating a pilot emphasis area for its SBIR/STTR programs to invest in startups and small businesses that are specifically developing enabling technologies that include next-generation instrumentation, novel experimental platforms, and other scientific equipment to advance the frontiers of scientific discovery and strengthen the American scientific and engineering enterprise.

This encompasses novel instrumentation necessary for the coming era of AI-driven discoveries. This pilot will prioritize investing in the necessary infrastructure to support entirely new fields of scientific discovery, making new technological breakthroughs and transformative applications possible. Through this approach, NSF will continue to lead in propelling the scientific enterprise to new frontiers.

This pilot emphasis area for the NSF SBIR/STTR programs funds across enabling technology areas and market sectors in alignment with the above goals; the programs do not solicit specific technologies for the purpose of procuring goods and services for the agency from startups and small businesses. NSF will continue to invest in other deep-tech ventures through the historic NSF SBIR/STTR programs available here.

Expanding Participation in STEM and Gold Standard Science: NSF prioritizes cutting-edge discovery science and engineering research, advancing technology and innovation, and creating opportunities for all Americans. NSF also expects the highest standards of scientific rigor, integrity and adherence to tenets of Gold Standard Science in proposals, as appropriate for the field of science and research modality.

*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: For Phase I: Proposers must obtain an official invitation to submit a proposal. To receive the invitation, potential proposers must submit a Project Pitch and receive an official response (via email) from the program staff.

Invitations are valid for the next two submission deadlines after the date of the initial official invitation. Submission deadlines are at the top of the funding opportunity. If the Project Pitch expires, the Principal Investigator (PI) is required to recomplete the Project Pitch process.

Note: that NSF places strict limits in terms of the number of Project Pitches and full proposals that can be under consideration from a given small business as described in the Project Pitch details using the link above. Two Project Pitches are the maximum number of submissions per company per year (12-month period).

In addition, NSF limits the total number of Project Pitches for the same project/technology, regardless of topic to no more than 3 submissions. For Phase II: Only NSF Phase I SBIR/STTR awardees are permitted to submit a Phase II proposal to NSF. Proposers must submit their SBIR/STTR Phase II proposal between 6 to 24 months after the start date of their relevant NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I award.

For Fast-Track: Proposers must obtain an official invitation to submit a proposal. To receive the invitation, potential proposers must submit a Project Pitch and receive an official response from program staff. A full proposal must be submitted within four months of the Fast-Track Project Pitch invitation.

Additional details are available here. For Strategic Breakthroughs: SBIR/STTR Phase II awardees are eligible to submit Strategic Breakthrough proposals upon the recommendation of their cognizant Program. Who May Serve as PI:The primary employment of the Principal Investigator (PI) must be with the small business at the time of award and for the duration of the award, unless a new PI is named.

Primary employment is defined as at least 51 percent employed by the small business. NSF normally considers a full-time work week to be 40 hours and considers employment elsewhere greater than 19. 6 hours per week to conflict with this requirement.

Occasionally, deviations from this requirement may occur, and must be approved in writing by the Funding Agreement program officer after consultation with the a Grantor contact information If you have any problems linking to this funding announcement, please contact the email address above. No documents are currently available.

Link to additional information Funding opportunity number : Cost sharing or matching requirement : Funding instrument type : Opportunity Category Explanation : Category of Funding Activity : Science technology and other research and development Your account requires additional identity verification.