Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer Research (SBIR/STTR) Program
Overview
The SBIR and STTR programs are congressionally mandated, highly competitive federal funding mechanisms designed to stimulate technological innovation and foster the commercialization of research discoveries by U.S.-based small businesses. Both programs aim to strengthen the role of small businesses in addressing federal research and development (R&D) priorities and accelerating the translation of scientific breakthroughs into impactful products and services.
The SBIR Program supports independent small businesses in advancing early-stage innovations with strong commercial potential. Core objectives include catalyzing private-sector commercialization, expanding small business participation in federal R&D, and fostering innovation.
The STTR Program shares these goals but uniquely mandates formal collaboration between a small business and a U.S. nonprofit research institution (e.g., a university or a federally funded R&D center) during Phase I and Phase II. This structure bridges academic excellence with entrepreneurial agility to promote rapid innovation and technology transfer.
Both programs are structured in phases, with Phases I, II, and Commercialization Readiness providing federal funding focused on translational R&D and product commercialization. Relevant research topics include, but are not limited to:
- Precision diagnostics and predictive health technologies
- Therapeutics, drug delivery, and regenerative systems
- Advanced dental materials and digital manufacturing
- Clinical decision support and workflow integration
- Health tech, accessibility, and real-world usability
- Behavioral, social, and community-based technologies
- FDA-ready product development and regulatory innovation
- Collaborative and interdisciplinary innovation models
To learn more about SBIR and STTR programs at NIDCR, visit the SBIR and STTR Funding Opportunities page on the seed.nih.gov website (look for NIDCR in the "Organization" column).
