Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I (Genesis Mission)

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Technology Commercialization is administering a Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I funding opportunity under the Genesis Mission initiative. This program represents a federal effort to accelerate scientific discovery and technological advancement by supporting early-stage research and development conducted by American small businesses. The Genesis Mission integrates capabilities across artificial intelligence, quantum science, biotechnology, and advanced materials, aiming to strengthen national competitiveness and technological leadership. The SBIR and STTR programs provide non-dilutive funding to help small businesses translate high-impact innovations into commercially viable solutions. This Phase I opportunity is designed as an initial solicitation under the Office of Technology Commercialization management, with a streamlined and applicant-focused process. The program anticipates making approximately 40 awards totaling about 10000000 dollars in Phase I funding. Individual applicants may request up to 250000 dollars, or up to 256500 dollars if including Technical and Business Assistance. The funding is intended to support feasibility and proof-of-concept work that aligns with one of four designated topic areas: scaling biotechnology innovation, advancing AI-enabled quantum systems, designing materials with predictable functionality, and enabling AI-driven autonomous laboratories. These topic areas emphasize the integration of artificial intelligence with scientific discovery and engineering processes. Eligible applicants are American small business concerns that meet SBIR or STTR eligibility requirements. While the detailed eligibility criteria are referenced externally, the program explicitly targets small businesses with high-potential technologies that can contribute to DOE mission priorities. The opportunity allows each company to submit up to three pitch applications, with only the most recent three being reviewed. The program is nationwide in scope and does not indicate geographic restrictions within the United States, reinforcing its accessibility to qualified small businesses across the country. The application process requires an initial pitch submission as a gating step before access to the full application. Applicants must complete a structured pitch consisting of four open-text questions designed to evaluate alignment, technical promise, commercialization potential, and team qualifications. Supporting materials such as a bibliography and references document may also be submitted but are not mandatory. Submissions must be completed through the Acquisition Management Portal, and applicants are encouraged to prepare responses offline due to strict word count limits. Only successful pitch applicants will be invited to submit a full Phase I proposal. Applications are evaluated based on four equally weighted criteria: alignment with the Genesis Mission and selected topic, technical feasibility and innovation, commercialization potential including market strategy, and the qualifications of the project team. Reviewers assess factors such as the significance of the problem, novelty of the solution, scalability, competitive positioning, and the strength of partnerships. Final funding decisions are made by DOE officials who may also consider broader programmatic priorities beyond reviewer scores. The timeline for this opportunity begins with the announcement in late July, followed by application portal access in mid August and virtual office hours sessions during the same period. The submission deadline for pitch applications is September 10, 2026 at 2 PM Eastern Time. Late submissions are not accepted. Selected applicants will enter into negotiations prior to receiving awards, and successful Phase I projects may progress to Phase II funding opportunities based on performance and funding availability. This program does not explicitly state recurrence for this specific Genesis Mission solicitation, although broader SBIR and STTR opportunities are issued regularly.

Ensure strong alignment with DOE mission and topic area; clearly demonstrate technical feasibility and commercialization pathway; highlight team expertise and partnerships