SBIR/STTR Phase I Incentive Funds Program
Reimburses North Carolina small businesses for part of the cost of preparing and submitting a federal Phase I SBIR or STTR proposal.
The Incentive program hasn't run continuously: Commerce's own award tables show a roughly decade-long stretch where it wasn't operational at all, before resuming in recent years. Across its four most recent annual cycles, it has funded somewhere between 48 and 51 businesses each year, with total awards running from a little over $300,000 to just under $420,000 annually -- averaging out to roughly โฆ
The program supports North Carolina small businesses getting ready to submit a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) proposal to a federal agency. It aims to grow the number, quality, technology mix and geographic spread of the state's federal SBIR/STTR applications.
Sign up free to see the funding breakdown
Sign up free to see the industries in scope
Sign up free to see the full eligibility
Sign up free to see how to apply
Sign up free to see where teams trip up
Guides for this application
All guides โSBIR/STTR Grants for Deeptech Startups
A practical guide to SBIR and STTR grants for deeptech startups, including agency fit, Phase I and II logic, eligibility, budgets, and review criteria.
Start hereCommercialization Plan for SBIR and Deeptech Grants
Learn how to write a commercialization plan for SBIR and deeptech grants, with market, IP, regulatory, customer, milestone, and funding sections.
Find grantsGovernment Grants for Startups: What Deeptech Founders Should Know
A practical guide to government grants for startups, including Grants.gov, SBIR/STTR, state programs, eligibility, fit, timelines, and when to apply.
More from NC Commerce
All grants from this funder โOne North Carolina Small Business Program
๐บ๐ธNC Commerce ยท United States
Reimburses and matches SBIR/STTR Phase I funding for North Carolina small businesses.
SBIR/STTR Phase I Matching Funds Program
๐บ๐ธNC Commerce ยท United States
Matches state funds for North Carolina small businesses that already won a federal Phase I SBIR or STTR award, bridging the gap before Phase II.
Similar grants
Browse the directory โOne NC SBIR/STTR Phase I Incentive Funds
๐บ๐ธNC BSTI ยท United States
Funds North Carolina small businesses preparing and submitting Phase I SBIR or STTR proposals to federal agencies.
SBIR/STTR Matching Funds
๐บ๐ธTEDCO ยท United States
Supports Maryland technology companies through State Matching Funds by sharing part of their matching requirements for federal opportunities.
MS-FAST SBIR/STTR Phase 0 โ Proposal Prep Grant
๐บ๐ธInnovate MS ยท United States
Supports Mississippi small businesses by funding proposal preparation for national commercialization and research pathways.
NSF Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR/STTR)
๐บ๐ธNSF ยท United States
Gives U.S. small businesses non-dilutive R&D funding for high-risk, high-impact deep-tech across nearly every technical field, from a Phase I award through a larger Phase II award.
KSEF SBIR/STTR microAwards
๐บ๐ธKY Innovation ยท United States
Funds Kentucky small companies preparing SBIR/STTR proposals through microAwards.
Nebraska SBIR/STTR Match
๐บ๐ธNE DED ยท United States
Funds Nebraska small businesses to extend federal innovation milestones with state matching support.