Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs Phase II
USDA Phase II funding supports small business research, technological innovation, commercialization, and cooperative partnerships with research institutions.
Funder: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Due Dates: November 17, 2026 (FY 2026) | September 21, 2027 (FY 2027, tentative)
Funding Amounts: $600,000–$650,000 for 24 months, including up to $50,000 for Technical and Business Assistance
Summary: Supports small businesses continuing Phase I research toward commercially viable agricultural technologies and innovations.
Key Information: Only prior SBIR/STTR Phase I recipients, including recognized successors-in-interest, may apply.
Description
USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) administers SBIR/STTR Phase II to continue research and development begun under Phase I, with the goal of bringing innovations to market. The programs support scientific excellence, private-sector technological innovation, small-business participation in federal research needs, and commercialization of federally supported research. STTR additionally supports formal partnerships between small businesses and research institutions.
Research must fit one of ten topic areas covering agriculture, food, natural resources, and rural development. Phase II applications must demonstrate technical feasibility from Phase I and present a commercialization strategy. NIFA encourages engagement with farmers, ranchers, and foresters and alignment with USDA priorities: producer profitability, expanded agricultural markets, invasive-species protection, soil health, and human health through precision nutrition and food quality.
