Funder · Federal agency

AFWERX

Supports AFWERX, the Department of the Air Force directorate linking military needs with emerging commercial technologies.

United Statesafwerx.com

Key stats

Annual funding$1.4B

Programs4

Active grants1

Total grants6

About

AFWERX is the innovation arm of the Department of the Air Force (DAF), operating as a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). It funds small businesses through SBIR and STTR contracts to develop and transition emerging technologies for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force. Since 2019, AFWERX has awarded over 10,400 contracts worth more than $7.24 billion.

AFWERX operates three core divisions: SBIR/STTR (connecting small businesses with funding opportunities), Spark (internal grassroots innovation for Airmen and Guardians), and SpaceWERX (Space Force-focused acceleration). The SBIR/STTR funding pathway covers three avenues — Open Topic (broad dual-use ideas), Specific Topic (pre-identified DAF requirements), and STRATFI/TACFI (growth-stage matching funds for Phase II graduates). In FY25, AFWERX awarded 1,049 contracts totaling $1.4 billion and achieved 438 Phase III transitions valued at $8.1 billion, with a 35% transition rate to DAF customer funding. SpaceWERX awarded more than 300 contracts totaling $510 million in FY25.

Programs & grants under this funder

AFWERX Open Topic SBIR/STTR

Helps AFWERX Topic process for dual-use technology proposals aligned with Air Force priorities.

1 grant

AFWERX Open Topic SBIR/STTR

Open

— pool·Rolling submission

AFWERX Specific Topic SBIR/STTR

Helps AFWERX Specific Topic for solving identified capability gaps with known customer requirements.

3 grants

AFWERX Specific Topic SBIR Release 1

Paused