Introduction to SBIR/STTR Grants & Funding Opportunities
What is the SBIR and STTR Program?
Two popular vehicles for government funding are the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) programs. The Small Business Administration oversees these programs, but the funding is provided by and managed by each participating federal agency.
The primary difference between the two is that STTR funding requires a small business to partner with a qualified research institution in any Phase I and Phase II efforts. Phase I efforts typically provide funds for a feasibility study, which is defined by the specific agency providing the funding. It can include customer discovery, market analysis, and/or engineering schematics. Phase II typically is a prototype demonstration of the technology proposed in Phase I, though these requirements can vary by agency.
Both SBIR and STTR give small businesses the opportunity and funding to conduct research and development. These innovative ideas can be used by the federal government or commercialized for use in outside industries.
What Government Agencies Offer SBIR/STTR Funding?
Numerous federal agencies participate by soliciting proposals through the SBIR/STTR program. Those agencies that participate in the SBIR program are:
- Small Business Administration
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Commerce
- Department of Defense
- Department of Education
- Department of Energy
- Department of Health and Human Services
- Department of Homeland Security
The agencies that participate in the STTR program are:
- Department of Defense
- Department of Energy
- Department of Health and Human Services
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- National Science Foundation
Many of these government agencies have created specific programs to administer these efforts. Drilling down into these programs shows the wide range of funding opportunities available for startup funding, non-dilutive funding, and government contracts:
- The Department of the Air Force maintains the AFWERX (Air Force), SpaceWERX (Space Force), Cyberwerx programs and is a partner in the joint Softwerx effort. The Army has the Army Applications Lab. The Navy has the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and jointly administers NavalX with the Marine Corps.
- The National Institutes of Health supports innovation funding through SBIR activities at the National Cancer Institute, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Food and Drug Administration.
- At the Department of Homeland Security, some SBIR opportunities are administered by FEMA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
SBIR/STTR grant awards are highly competitive. It’s critical to submit the best possible proposal for your idea. We have the experience and knowledge to craft a proposal that will get you the funding you need. Contact Gallium Solutions to get started on your journey.
