NSF SBIR and STTR awards and R&D opportunities
NSF's America's Seed Fund backs early-stage technology across almost any field. It asks for a short Project Pitch before a full proposal, and awards are grants. NSF's official SBIR/STTR site has its current topics and deadlines.
- Awards, 2022–2026
- 1,761
- Awarded
- $951 million
- Phase II share
- 33%
- Open NSF R&D notices
- 4
Open NSF R&D opportunities, due soonest
4 open notices on SAM.gov have an R&D NAICS code or a BAA, SBIR, STTR or commercial solutions opening in the title.
- Request for Information (RFI): Identifying the Next Generation of NSF X-Labs Topics
Due in 20 daysOct 31, 2026
- NSF X-Labs Initiative – AI for Physical Systems Topic Announcement
✦ The National Science Foundation is asking research teams for written proposals to build early-stage 'AI for physical systems' platform technologies, such as robotics, advanced…
Due in 89 daysJan 7, 2027
- U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) X-Labs Initiative
✦ The National Science Foundation (NSF) is asking U.S. organizations to propose full-time, independent research and development teams ("X-Labs") that build new platform technologies.
Due in 582 daysMay 14, 2028
- U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) X-Labs Initative
✦ The National Science Foundation wants U.S. teams to set up independent, full-time R&D labs (called NSF X-Labs) that build new platform technologies.
Due in 582 daysMay 14, 2028
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Get R&D alertsNSF and the 2026 SBIR restart
SBIR and STTR lapsed from October 1, 2025 until the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act reauthorized them on April 13, 2026, through September 30, 2031. NSF posted new SBIR/STTR solicitations (NSF 26-510 and NSF 26-511) on May 22, 2026. The next full-proposal deadlines are November 4, 2026, March 4, 2027 and July 7, 2027, and you submit a short Project Pitch first.
NSF SBIR and STTR awards by year
| Award year | Phase I | Phase II | Dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (so far) | 68 | 79 | $126.9 million |
| 2025 | 207 | 124 | $210.1 million |
| 2024 | 303 | 116 | $197.9 million |
| 2023 | 278 | 141 | $214.2 million |
| 2022 | 324 | 121 | $201.9 million |
| 2021 | 390 | 106 | $207.3 million |
| 2020 | 388 | 120 | $198.2 million |
| 2019 | 361 | 116 | $179.8 million |
| 2018 | 292 | 108 | $147.6 million |
| 2017 | 293 | 120 | $151.7 million |
| 2016 | 331 | 117 | $151.1 million |
274 of the 1,761 awards since 2022 were STTR, which requires a research institution partner.
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).
Top NSF SBIR recipients
Small businesses with the most NSF SBIR and STTR dollars since 2022:
| Company | State | Awards | Dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revterra Corporation | TX | 2 | $2 million |
| Skygig LLC | MI | 2 | $2 million |
| Sostos LLC | WV | 3 | $1.8 million |
| Iseechange | LA | 3 | $1.6 million |
| Myrias Optics Inc | MA | 2 | $1.6 million |
| Princeton Critical Minerals, Inc. | NJ | 2 | $1.6 million |
| Motmot, Inc. | MI | 2 | $1.6 million |
| Fibarcode, LLC | TN | 2 | $1.6 million |
| Neural Solid, Inc. | NY | 1 | $1.6 million |
| Sit Sense Inc | MI | 1 | $1.6 million |
| Fitoto Technologies Inc. | CA | 2 | $1.6 million |
| Rapicure Solutions, Inc. | CO | 2 | $1.6 million |
| Loose in the Lab Inc | UT | 2 | $1.6 million |
| Solidec Inc. | TX | 2 | $1.6 million |
| Flowcellutions, Inc | PA | 1 | $1.6 million |
Newest NSF SBIR and STTR awards
| Awarded | Company | Project | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 28, 2026 | Ecate LLC | SBIR Phase II SBIR Phase II: A Novel Implantable System for Neurogenic Control | $1.2 million |
| Aug 27, 2026 | Seia Bio Inc | SBIR Phase II SBIR Phase II: Protecting beneficial microbes from harmful stressors | $1.3 million |
| Aug 27, 2026 | 3FATES-Xray, Inc. | SBIR Phase II SBIR Phase II: Deep-learning Driven Single-shot X-ray Phase-contrast Computed Tomography for Security… | $1.2 million |
| Aug 27, 2026 | L5 Automation Inc. | SBIR Phase II SBIR Phase II: Intelligent Robotic Foliage Manipulation for Faster Autonomous Harvesting | $1.3 million |
| Aug 27, 2026 | Perceptra Technologies, Inc. | SBIR Phase II SBIR Phase II: High-Performance Integrated Photonic Raman Analyzers | $1.2 million |
| Aug 27, 2026 | Earth Mapping International, Inc. | SBIR Phase II SBIR Phase II: Dynamic OneSource Geospatial Information System | $1.3 million |
| Aug 27, 2026 | Juno Propulsion Inc. | SBIR Phase II SBIR Phase II: Rotating Detonation Combustion Satellite Thruster Using Novel, Non-toxic Propellants | $1.2 million |
| Aug 27, 2026 | METEORA3D Incorporated | SBIR Phase II SBIR Phase II: Rapid Lift-Based Peel Separation Masked Inverted Stereolithography 3D Printing for Trauma… | $1.2 million |
| Aug 24, 2026 | Caravel Bio, Inc. | SBIR Phase II SBIR Phase II: Industrial Strength Biology: Creating Robust Protein Technologies Using Spore-Display… | $1.2 million |
| Aug 24, 2026 | Linebird, Inc. | SBIR Phase II SBIR Phase II: Unmanned Aerial Payload Systems for Live-line Access | $1.2 million |
| Aug 24, 2026 | Crabline Robotics LLC | SBIR Phase II SBIR Phase II: Robotic Platforms for Managing Submerged Structures | $1.2 million |
| Aug 24, 2026 | Fringe Metrology LLC | SBIR Phase II SBIR Phase II: Advanced Metrology System for Surface and Bonding Quality Control in Semiconductor… | $1.2 million |
Frequently asked questions
How many SBIR awards does NSF make?
National Science Foundation (NSF) made 1,761 SBIR and STTR awards worth $951 million from 2022 through the latest SBIR.gov data, 581 of them Phase II. The average Phase I award was about $282,466 and average Phase II about $1.1 million.
Where does NSF post SBIR topics?
On its official SBIR/STTR site (seedfund.nsf.gov). Related R&D solicitations and broad agency announcements are also posted on SAM.gov.
Is NSF accepting SBIR proposals in 2026?
SBIR and STTR lapsed from October 1, 2025 until the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act reauthorized them on April 13, 2026, through September 30, 2031. NSF posted new SBIR/STTR solicitations (NSF 26-510 and NSF 26-511) on May 22, 2026. The next full-proposal deadlines are November 4, 2026, March 4, 2027 and July 7, 2027, and you submit a short Project Pitch first.
Other SBIR agencies
DoD · HHS · DOE · NASA · USDA · Commerce · DHS · DOT · EPA · Education
Award data from SBIR.gov's public award file, updated monthly; contact and researcher names are left out. Open notices from SAM.gov, updated daily.