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Small businesses are eligible to apply to many of NIH’s standard programs. In addition, NIH has funding programs specifically aimed at small businesses.
NIH is required by statute to reserve a portion of its annual extramural budget for projects under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. These programs, also known as America’s Seed Fund, offer small business entrepreneurs a chance to obtain non-dilutive funding for early-stage research and development.
The goals of our small business program are to:
- Stimulate technological innovation
- Meet federal research and development needs
- Increase private sector commercialization of innovations developed through federal R&D funding
- Foster and encourage participation in innovation and entrepreneurship by socially and economically disadvantaged (SDB) persons and women-owned small businesses (WOSB).
Although the goals are the same and the money always goes to the small business, a key difference between the SBIR and STTR programs is whether partnerships with a non-profit research institution are allowed (SBIR) or required (STTR).
Search for Small Business Funding Opportunities
The NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts is NIH's official publication of notices of grant policies, guidelines, and funding opportunities.
View Current Funding OpportunitiesVisit our dedicated Small business Education and Entrepreneurial Development (SEED) website for an in-depth explanation of:
- Available small business funding
- Technical and business assistance
- Commercialization programs
- Supplement programs to promote diversity in small business research and development
Review Criteria
To find the criteria reviewers will use to evaluate your application, see Section V of your funding opportunity.
Still looking for a funding opportunity? Check out the Small Business Parent Announcements, which are broad funding opportunities allowing applicants to submit investigator-initiated applications. Parent Announcements include the minimum standard review criteria appropriate for their program.
Programs
The SBIR and STTR programs are divided into several phases that support applicants at different stages of development. Phase I awards support projects to establish technical merit and feasibility while Phase II awards support projects to continue R&D efforts initiated in Phase I. Some opportunities also accept Phase IIB applications requesting additional funding for Phase II projects that require extraordinary time and effort in the R&D phase.
Small businesses awarded Phase II and Phase IIB funding may be interested in our Commercialization Readiness Program which offers assistance to pursue commercialization.