Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track Programs SBIR/STTR: Developing Deep Technologies that Advance U.S. Competitiveness and Security — National Science Foundation funding opportunity
National Science Foundation · Federal agency

Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track Programs SBIR/STTR: Developing Deep Technologies that Advance U.S. Competitiveness and Security

NSF invests in scientific discoveries, technological breakthroughs, and transformative innovations that strengthen economic growth, enhance security, and improve the lives of Americans and people around the world. In sup...

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Deadline Fixed Location Alabama Type grant Level Federal Open posted May 21, 2026
✦ AI Summary
  • Who can apply: Federal-level applicants (see eligibility for details).
  • Issued by: National Science Foundation.
  • About: NSF invests in scientific discoveries, technological breakthroughs, and transformative innovations that strengthen economic growth, enhance security, and improve the lives of Americans and people around the world. In support of this…
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How was this generated?

The “key facts” mode pulls structured fields directly from the official source posting (amount, deadline, eligibility tags). The AI mode adds a short plain-English narrative on top, generated from the same source. Always verify with the agency before applying.

AI-generated. Always verify with the official source.

Who can apply — at a glance

  • Eligible applicants: see the Eligibility tab for the criteria from the official announcement.
  • Where: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, District of Columbia.
  • Award: amount not specified by the source.
  • Matching funds: not required.
  • Deadline type: Fixed.

Compiled from the official listing's structured fields — always verify with the funder before applying.

About the funder

National Science Foundation is a federal-level funder.

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Deadline
Fixed

About this opportunity

NSF invests in scientific discoveries, technological breakthroughs, and transformative innovations that strengthen economic growth, enhance security, and improve the lives of Americans and people around the world. In support of this mission, NSF is relaunching its SBIR/STTR programs (also known as America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF) following enactment of the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act to invest in startups and small businesses transforming high-risk technologies into products and services with commercial impacts. By investing federal R&D funds in start-ups and small businesses, NSF strengthens the national economy by stimulating private sector innovation, commercializing federally-funded research outputs, and supporting the American scientific enterprise. This investment enhances job creation while developing and expanding the workforce. The NSF SBIR/STTR programs fund across nearly all technology areas and market sectors; the programs do not solicit specific technologies or procure goods and services from startups and small businesses. Each company can receive up to $2 million for R&D. NSF takes no equity and awardees keep full ownership of their company and intellectual property. Funding opportunities are available through the NSF SBIR/STTR programs: Phase I, Phase Supplements. Separately, NSF welcomes Strategic Breakthrough proposals, upon recommendation from the cognizant Program Officer, for Phase II awardees. In addition to these SBIR/STTR programs, NSF is also separately piloting a new emphasis area (see here) focused on enabling technologies that include next-generation instrumentation, novel experimental platforms, and other scientific equipment to advance the frontiers of scientific discovery and strengthen the American scientific and engineering enterprise.

Funding agency

National Science Foundation
Federal agency

Tags

Small Business Technology & Software Education & Research Rural Development Transportation & Logistics Science, Tech & Engineering (STEM)
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Who can apply

NSF invests in scientific discoveries, technological breakthroughs, and transformative innovations that strengthen economic growth, enhance security, and improve the lives of Americans and people around the world. In support of this mission, NSF is relaunching its SBIR/STTR programs (also known as America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF) following enactment of the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act to invest in startups and small businesses transforming high-risk technologies into products and services with commercial impacts. By investing federal R&D funds in start-ups and small businesses, NSF strengthens the national economy by stimulating private sector innovation, commercializing federally-funded research outputs, and supporting the American scientific enterprise. This investment enhances job creation while developing and expanding the workforce. The NSF SBIR/STTR programs fund across nearly all technology areas and market sectors; the programs do not solicit specific technologies or procure goods and services from startups and small businesses. Each company can receive up to $2 million for R&D. NSF takes no equity and awardees keep full ownership of their company and intellectual property. Funding opportunities are available through the NSF SBIR/STTR programs: Phase I, Phase Supplements. Separately, NSF welcomes Strategic Breakthrough proposals, upon recommendation from the cognizant Program Officer, for Phase II aw

Geographic eligibility

  • Alabama
  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming
  • District of Columbia

How to apply

We don't have application instructions on file yet — head straight to the official source.

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Source documents

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Citation details

Source systemnsf
Source IDnsf26-510
PostedMay 21, 2026

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