Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track Programs (SBIR/STTR): A Pilot Emphasis on Scientific Instrumentation.
NSF’s SBIR/STTR pilot funds up to $2M for startups and small businesses developing next-generation scientific instruments and technologies to advance scientific discovery and innovation in the U.S.
Funder: U.S. National Science Foundation
Due Dates: July 27, 2026 | November 4, 2026 | March 4, 2027 | July 7, 2027
Funding Amounts: Up to $2 million total per company for R&D (Phase I, II, Fast-Track, Supplements); $305,000 (Phase I), $1,250,000 (Phase II), up to $1,555,000 (Fast-Track), $50,000–$500,000 (Phase IIB supplement), up to $30 million (Strategic Breakthroughs); ~$40 million total program funding annually.
Summary: Supports startups and small businesses developing next-generation scientific instruments and enabling technologies to advance U.S. scientific discovery and innovation.
Key Information: Project Pitch invitation required for Phase I and Fast-Track; only NSF Phase I awardees may apply for Phase II.
Description
This opportunity from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) supports startups and small businesses through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, with a pilot emphasis on next-generation scientific instrumentation, experimental platforms, and enabling technologies. The program aims to strengthen the U.S. scientific and engineering enterprise by funding the development of novel instruments and technologies critical for frontier research, including those enabling AI-driven discoveries.
Funding is available for Phase I (feasibility and proof-of-concept), Phase II (R&D and commercialization), Fast-Track (combined Phase I and II for select projects), and a range of supplements, including Phase IIB and Strategic Breakthrough awards. The NSF takes no equity, and awardees retain full ownership of their company and intellectual property.
