Does your business need a boost? Get an introduction to America’s Largest Seed Fund: U.S. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs.
About SBIR/STTR
Each year, federal departments and agencies reserve a portion of their R&D funds for award to small businesses.
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is a highly-competitive program that encourages small businesses to explore their potential and provlde the incentive to profit from its commercialization. High tech innovation is on the rise and the United States gains entrepreneurial spirit as it meets its research and development needs. Read more about SBIR.
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) is another program that expands funding opportunities in the federal innovation research and development (R&D) arena. Central to the program is expansion of the public/private sector partnership to include joint opportunities for small businesses and nonprofit research institutions. Read more about STTR.
Advantages of SBIR/STTR
- Enables early transfer of technology and establishment of start-up companies
- Use funds to prove feasibility
- Retain intellectual property
- Don't have to pay back
- Don't dilute ownership
- Additional jobs
- Increased innovation
- Increased economic development
- Increased tax base
Are you eligible for SBIR/STTR funding?
You must meet all of the criteria to be eligible for the SBIR/STTR programs.
- Does your business employ 500 or fewer employees, including affiliates?
- Is your business at least 51% owned and operated by a U.S. citizen or permanent resident?
- Is your business a for-profit entity or will you form a for-profit entity?
- Is your business located in the United States?
- Is your Principal Investigator (main researcher) devoting at least 51% time to the business? (This is required for SBIR but not for STTR).
Participating federal agencies
SBIR
Each year, ten federal departments and agencies are required by SBIR to reserve a portion of their Research and Development (R&D) funds for award to small businesses. These departments are as follows:
- USDA
- US Department of Commerce
- Department of Defense
- Department of Education
- Department of Energy
- Department of Health and Human Services
- Department of Transportation
- Environmental Protection Agency
- NASA
- NSF
STTR
Each year, five federal departments and agencies are required by STTR to reserve a portion of their Research and Development (R&D) funds for award to small business/nonprofit research institution partnerships. These departments are as follows:
Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration
