AFOSR Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)

AFOSR STTR

Funds collaborative basic research pathways for technology transfer from concept through scalable prototypes.

The AFOSR Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programme is the Air Force Office of Scientific Research's mechanism for funding basic research partnerships between U.S. small businesses and non-profit research institutions, including universities. AFOSR explicitly has no SBIR programme — STTR is the sole small-business funding channel under AFOSR, distinct from the applied-technology SBIR/STTR administered by AFWERX. The programme targets research aligned with AFOSR's scientific priorities across Engineering and Complex Systems, Information and Networks, Physical Sciences, and Chemistry and Biological Sciences.

Phase I awards range from $60,000 to $100,000 for up to one year. Phase II awards are up to $750,000 over 24 months. The small business serves as the prime contractor and must partner with at least one academic or non-profit research institution under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA). The small business must perform at least 40% of the funded work; the research institution must perform at least 30%. The principal investigator may be based at either the small business or the research institution. The small business must have no more than 500 employees. Submissions are made via the DoD SBIR/STTR portal at dodsbirsttr.mil, not through Grants.gov.

STTR solicitations follow the DoD-wide annual STTR cycle, with topics released periodically throughout the year. Applicants should monitor dodsbirsttr.mil for active AFOSR topic numbers and confirm topic alignment with the relevant AFOSR program officer before submission, as topic lists change with each cycle. AFOSR STTR contact is Mr. Edward Lee at STTR@us.af.mil. To win, the small business should demonstrate a genuine basic-research gap — not an applied product development goal — and the partnering institution should have established scientific credibility in the proposed topic area. Phase II awardees are encouraged to pursue transition to Phase III through follow-on AFRL contracts or other DoD funding.