SBIR and STTR: small business R&D funding
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs set aside part of federal R&D budgets for small businesses. Eleven agencies make about 6,000 awards a year, from early feasibility studies to multimillion-dollar prototypes. Here is who funds what, who wins, and which R&D opportunities are open on SAM.gov right now.
- Awards, 2022–2026
- 24,898
- Awarded, 2022–2026
- $18.4 billion
- Open R&D notices now
- 458
Where SBIR and STTR stand in 2026
SBIR and STTR's legal authority lapsed at the end of September 30, 2025. For about six and a half months, agencies issued no new solicitations and suspended the selection and funding of new awards, though existing awards continued.
On April 13, 2026, the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act (Public Law 119-83) reauthorized both programs through September 30, 2031. It keeps the 3.2% SBIR and 0.45% STTR budget shares, tightens foreign-risk reviews, adds Strategic Breakthrough Phase II awards of up to $30 million, and has agencies cap the number of proposals one company can submit starting in fiscal year 2027.
Agencies have restarted. DoD (now also called the Department of War) has released topics monthly since May 2026, and its first fiscal year 2027 release opens October 28, 2026. NIH issued new SBIR and STTR funding opportunities on May 28, 2026, NSF posted new solicitations on May 22, 2026, and NASA moved to a single announcement valid through September 30, 2027.
For eligibility, phases, how to find topics and how to write a winning proposal, read SBIR and STTR in 2026: a small business guide.
Open R&D opportunities on SAM.gov, due soonest
Notices with an R&D NAICS code (541713, 541714, 541715) or a broad agency announcement (BAA), SBIR, STTR or commercial solutions opening in the title.
- SURPASS Webinar and Proposers' Day Information
Due in 2 daysOct 13, 2026
- Simulation-augmented, Real-time Platform Adaptive Seamless Trials (SURPASS)
Due in 2 daysOct 13, 2026
- Synthetic Training Environment (STE) Virtual Software (VSW)
✦ The Army (ACC-APG Orlando, for the Simulation program office) is asking industry for solutions to the Synthetic Training Environment Virtual Software, a soldier training…
Due in 2 daysOct 13, 2026
- The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Support
✦ NIST is asking for market research input on a possible future contract in Gaithersburg, MD. Contractors would review 20 to 30 commercialization plans from NIST SBIR proposals and…
Due in 2 daysOct 13, 2026
- Technical Services
Due in 2 daysOct 13, 2026
- Restorative and health-Enhancing Sleep Time (REST)
✦ ARPA-H, a federal health research agency, is seeking proposals for its REST program on objective, home-based, closed-loop sleep technologies that detect sleep patterns and…
Due in 2 daysOct 13, 2026
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Get R&D alertsSBIR and STTR awards by agency
Awards made from 2022 through Aug 28, 2026, per SBIR.gov. Select an agency for its top recipients, newest awards and open R&D notices.
| Agency | Awards | Phase II | STTR | Dollars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | 13,057 | 6,095 | 2,562 | $10.5 billion |
| Department of Health and Human Services | 5,124 | 2,006 | 985 | $4.8 billion |
| Department of Energy | 2,043 | 701 | 258 | $1.1 billion |
| National Science Foundation (NSF) | 1,761 | 581 | 274 | $951 million |
| National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) | 1,833 | 587 | 285 | $742.7 million |
| Department of Agriculture | 353 | 118 | 34 | $114 million |
| Department of Commerce | 228 | 71 | – | $65.2 million |
| Department of Homeland Security | 135 | 49 | – | $62.3 million |
| Department of Transportation | 137 | 59 | – | $58.5 million |
| Department of Education | 94 | 39 | – | $52.8 million |
| Environmental Protection Agency | 133 | 31 | – | $22.8 million |
By component: Air Force (5,976), Navy (2,997), Army (1,547), DARPA (424), MDA (500), DHA (361), DLA (308), SOCOM (225), OSD (203), CBD (148), DTRA (135), NIH (4,950), CDC (77).
Awards by year
| Award year | SBIR | STTR | Dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (so far) | 280 | 23 | $211.9 million |
| 2025 | 4,305 | 914 | $4.1 billion |
| 2024 | 5,304 | 1,108 | $4.9 billion |
| 2023 | 5,268 | 1,057 | $4.7 billion |
| 2022 | 5,343 | 1,296 | $4.5 billion |
| 2021 | 5,587 | 1,294 | $3.8 billion |
| 2020 | 6,278 | 1,038 | $4 billion |
| 2019 | 6,127 | 912 | $3.8 billion |
| 2018 | 4,860 | 799 | $2.8 billion |
| 2017 | 5,159 | 862 | $3.2 billion |
| 2016 | 4,600 | 799 | $2.7 billion |
2025 and 2026 are low because the programs' authority lapsed from October 2025 to April 2026, and because agencies report new awards to SBIR.gov months late (some agencies' newest reported awards are from 2024 or 2025).
Small businesses with the most SBIR and STTR funding
Total SBIR and STTR award dollars since 2022, across all agencies. Many of the biggest recipients are R&D firms that win dozens of awards a year.
- Physical Sciences Inc.MA · 318 awards · $213.8 million
- Triton Systems, Inc.MA · 203 awards · $131.5 million
- Intellisense Systems IncCA · 164 awards · $94.6 million
- CFD Research CorporationAL · 142 awards · $82.7 million
- Toyon Research CorporationCA · 107 awards · $80.5 million
- Charles River Analytics, Inc.MA · 113 awards · $78.6 million
- Tda Research, Inc.CO · 130 awards · $78.3 million
- Creare LLCNH · 124 awards · $75.6 million
- Arete AssociatesCA · 84 awards · $72 million
- Umbra Lab, IncCA · 9 awards · $68.7 million
- Wildstar LLCMA · 7 awards · $66.5 million
- Lynntech Inc.TX · 116 awards · $62.9 million
- Corvid Technologies, LLCNC · 82 awards · $62.7 million
- Luna Labs USA LLCVA · 108 awards · $61.3 million
- Spectral Energies LLCOH · 106 awards · $58.2 million
How SBIR and STTR work
- Phase I tests whether an idea is technically feasible. As of April 2026, agencies can award up to $323,090 without an SBA waiver, and the median award from 2023 to 2025 was about $181,000.
- Phase II funds the full R&D effort: up to $2,153,927 without a waiver, with a median of about $1.25 million from 2023 to 2025. It usually follows a Phase I award, though some agencies allow "Direct to Phase II." Since 2026, Strategic Breakthrough awards of up to $30 million can follow a Phase II.
- Phase III is commercialization with non-SBIR money: a follow-on government contract, which an agency can award without a new competition, or private sales.
Agencies publish their research needs as topics, in solicitations a few times a year. DoD posts its topics on the DoD SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal, NIH and other grant-making agencies on Grants.gov, and some R&D solicitations and BAAs appear on SAM.gov too, which is where FedReady finds them.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between SBIR and STTR?
Both fund R&D at small businesses in phases. SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) lets the business do the work on its own, and the principal investigator must be primarily employed by it. STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) requires a formal partnership with a nonprofit research institution such as a university or federal lab, which must do at least 30% of the work while the small business does at least 40%.
Is SBIR funding available in 2026?
Yes. SBIR and STTR lapsed from October 1, 2025 until a reauthorization was signed into law on April 13, 2026, extending them through September 30, 2031. Agencies including DoD, NIH, NSF, NASA, USDA and EPA have published new solicitations since then. Check each agency's SBIR site for current topics and deadlines.
Which agencies have SBIR programs?
Eleven federal agencies run SBIR: Defense, Health and Human Services (mainly NIH), Energy, NASA, the National Science Foundation, Agriculture, Commerce, Homeland Security, Transportation, Education and the EPA. Six of them (DoD, HHS, DOE, NASA, NSF and USDA) also run STTR.
Do SBIR awards have to be repaid?
No. SBIR and STTR awards are grants or contracts for R&D work, not loans. Phase III, the commercialization stage, is paid for with non-SBIR money such as a follow-on government contract or private sales.
Keep going
- SBIR and STTR in 2026: a small business guide
- NAICS 541715: R&D in the physical, engineering and life sciences
- Small business contractor profiles
- SBIR.gov, the official program site
Award data from SBIR.gov's public award file, 2016 on, updated monthly. Contact and researcher names are left out. Open notices from SAM.gov, updated daily.