Funder: National Science Foundation
Due Dates: September 18, 2024 | November 6, 2024 | March 5, 2025 | July 2, 2025 | November 5, 2025
Funding Amounts: Up to $305,000 per award for 6–18 months; ~280 awards/year; non-dilutive funding.
Summary: Non-dilutive grants for startups and small businesses to develop high-risk, innovative science and engineering technologies with strong commercial and societal impact potential.
Key Information: A Project Pitch invitation is required before submitting a full proposal; only one proposal per organization per deadline.
Description
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I programs provide non-dilutive funding to support the research and development of unproven, leading-edge technology innovations. These programs are designed to help startups and small businesses transform scientific discoveries and engineering advances into products and services that address significant societal challenges and have strong commercial potential. The programs are broad in scope, supporting projects across nearly all areas of science and engineering, and are intended to catalyze economic growth, foster diverse entrepreneurship, and increase the commercial application of federally supported research.
Due Dates
- September 18, 2024
- November 6, 2024
- March 5, 2025
- July 2, 2025
- November 5, 2025
All proposals are due by 5:00 p.m. local time of the submitting organization. A Project Pitch invitation is required before submission; invitations are valid for two deadlines after issuance.
Funding Amount
- Award Size: Up to $305,000 per project (inclusive of all direct/indirect costs, small business fee, TABA, and I-Corps)
- Project Duration: 6–18 months
- Estimated Number of Awards: ~230–235 SBIR Phase I and ~45–50 STTR Phase I awards per year
- Total Program Funding: Approximately $85 million annually
Eligibility
- Applicant Type: U.S.-based startups and small businesses (≤500 employees, including affiliates)
- Project Pitch: Must submit a Project Pitch and receive an official invitation before submitting a full proposal
- Ownership: Company must be majority U.S.-owned and controlled
- PI Requirements: PI must be primarily employed (≥51%) by the small business at the time of award and during the project; no degree requirements
- STTR Proposals: Must include a partner research institution (e.g., university, nonprofit, or FFRDC)
- Restrictions: No proposals from companies majority-owned by venture capital, hedge funds, or private equity; no clinical trials or projects involving Schedule I controlled substances
- Limitations: One proposal per organization per deadline; one active Project Pitch or proposal at a time
Application Process
- Project Pitch Submission: Submit a Project Pitch to NSF and await invitation.
- Full Proposal Submission: If invited, submit a full proposal via Research.gov by the next two deadlines after invitation.
- Proposal Components: Include cover sheet, project summary, project description (10–15 pages), budget and justification, biographical sketches (via SciENcv), current and pending support, collaborators/affiliations, synergistic activities, data management plan, and other required documents.
- Budgeting: Proposals should budget for Technical and Business Assistance (TABA, up to $6,500) and are strongly encouraged to include $25,000 for I-Corps entrepreneurial training.
- Review: Proposals are evaluated on Intellectual Merit, Broader Impacts, and Commercialization Potential.
- Award Notification: Successful applicants will be notified by NSF; all awardees must attend the NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I Awardees Workshop.
Additional Information
- Confidentiality: Proposals are confidential and not considered public disclosure.
- No Letters of Support: Letters of support from customers/users are not allowed; letters of commitment from subawardees are required if applicable.
- No Equipment Purchases: Equipment purchases are not allowed under Phase I.
- U.S. Work Requirement: All project activities must be conducted in the United States.
- Reporting: Annual and final project reports are required; a technical report is needed for Phase II applications.
External Links
Contact Information