NSF Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track Programs: A Pilot Emphasis on Scientific Instrumentation

The National Science Foundation, through its Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, administers the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs to support research and development by startups and small businesses. This solicitation establishes a pilot emphasis on scientific instrumentation, including next-generation instrumentation, novel experimental platforms, scientific equipment, and enabling technologies that can advance scientific discovery and strengthen the United States scientific and engineering enterprise. The emphasis includes instrumentation needed for AI-driven discovery and infrastructure capable of enabling new scientific fields, technological breakthroughs, and transformative applications. NSF does not use these programs to procure goods or services from participating companies, takes no equity, and awardees retain ownership of their companies and intellectual property. Funding is available through Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track, and supplemental mechanisms. Phase I proposals may request up to $305,000 for projects lasting 6 to 18 months. Phase II proposals may request up to $1,250,000 and typically run for 24 months. Fast-Track proposals may request up to $400,000 for Phase I activities lasting 6 to 12 months and up to $1,155,000 for Phase II activities lasting an additional 18 to 24 months. Phase IIB supplements range from $50,000 to $500,000 and use NSF matching funds to build on Phase II development achievements and accelerate commercialization with funds from investors or customers. Technology Enhancement for Commercial Partnerships supplements may provide up to 20 percent of a Phase II award for additional research supporting commercial partnerships. Upon recommendation from the cognizant NSF Program Officer, eligible Phase II awardees may also submit Strategic Breakthrough proposals for awards up to $30,000,000. The pilot has an anticipated total budget of up to $40,000,000, subject to availability of funds. Voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited. Eligibility is limited to firms qualifying as small business concerns under applicable SBIR and STTR requirements, including the 500-employee size limit that includes affiliates. STTR proposals additionally require a partner research institution. Phase I applicants must first submit a Project Pitch and receive an official invitation from NSF before submitting a full proposal. Invitations are valid for the next two submission deadlines following the initial official invitation. A company may submit no more than two Project Pitches during a 12-month period, and no more than three Project Pitches may be submitted for the same project or technology. Phase II proposals are limited to NSF Phase I SBIR or STTR awardees and must be submitted between 6 and 24 months after the relevant Phase I award start date. Fast-Track applicants also require an invitation based on a Project Pitch and must submit the full proposal within four months of that invitation. Active Phase II awardees may participate in applicable supplemental opportunities, while Strategic Breakthrough proposals require recommendation from the cognizant Program Officer. The Principal Investigator must have primary employment with the proposing small business at the time of award and throughout the award unless an approved replacement is named. Primary employment generally means at least 51 percent employment by the small business. The PI must have a legal right to work for the proposing company in the United States, but no academic affiliation or specific degree is required. Phase I and Phase II PIs must devote at least one calendar month of effort per six months of performance, while Fast-Track PIs must devote at least three calendar months per six months. SBIR proposals have one PI and do not permit co-PIs. STTR proposals require one PI from the small business and one co-PI from the partner research institution. An individual may be PI on only one proposal at a time under this funding opportunity. Full proposals must be submitted through Research.gov and will not be accepted through Grants.gov. Applicants must follow the solicitation-specific NSF SBIR/STTR instructions together with the applicable Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide, with the funding opportunity instructions controlling where a conflict exists. Letters of Intent and preliminary proposals are not required. Proposals are evaluated on Intellectual Merit, Broader Impacts, and Commercial Impact. NSF seeks projects with the potential to advance knowledge, benefit society, and produce significant commercial outcomes. Proposals passing an initial compliance check are reviewed by an NSF Program Officer and, in most cases, three or more external experts through ad hoc review, panel review, internal NSF review, or other internal or external subject-matter-expert review. The solicitation lists full proposal deadlines of July 27, 2026; November 4, 2026; March 4, 2027; and July 7, 2027, with submissions due by 5 p.m. in the submitting organization's local time. The November deadline recurs on the first Wednesday in November annually thereafter, the March deadline on the first Thursday in March annually thereafter, and the July deadline on the first Wednesday in July annually thereafter. As of August 19, 2026, the next listed full proposal deadline is November 4, 2026. Awardees are subject to NSF award terms, specialized SBIR/STTR conditions, research security and due diligence requirements, and applicable reporting requirements. Unless an award notice provides otherwise, principal investigators must submit annual project reports and project outcomes reports, with specialized reporting requirements also applying to SBIR/STTR recipients. The program contact is the SBIR/STTR Inbox at sbir@nsf.gov and 703-292-5111. Questions concerning Research.gov may be directed to the NSF IT Service Desk at rgov@nsf.gov or 1-800-381-1532. The Service Desk operates from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern time Monday through Friday except federal holidays. Notification of an award is made to the submitting organization by an NSF Grants and Agreements Officer. The program is recurring, with annual November, March, and July deadline patterns specified in the solicitation.

Address Intellectual Merit, Broader Impacts, and Commercial Impact directly. Show how the R&D advances next-generation scientific instrumentation or enabling technologies and addresses an unmet need in the scientific enterprise. Explain how NSF investment can improve company viability through factors such as team strength, business-model validation, customer and stakeholder engagement, follow-on funding readiness, or intellectual property position. Follow solicitation-specific instructions where they differ from the PAPPG, and ensure STTR proposals satisfy the required research-institution partnership.