DoW SBIR — Open Topics
Supports United States defense innovators in AI, aerospace, and advanced systems development.
The Department of War (DoW, formerly Department of Defense) Small Business Innovation Research program is the primary federal mechanism for contracting early-stage R&D directly with American small businesses. Operating under a $841 billion national defense budget, DoW runs three pre-scheduled BAA/CSO release cycles per fiscal year plus Annual BAAs that allow components to publish topics throughout…
Small business R&D contracts across 130+ active defense topics from Army, Air Force, Navy, DARPA, MDA, DTRA, DHA, SOCOM, and OSD, addressing national security challenges via BAA and CSO solicitation mechanisms.
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Guides for this application
All guides →SBIR/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.
Where to applyGrants for Biotech Startups: NIH, NSF, SBIR/STTR, and Non-Dilutive Funding
A practical guide to grants for biotech startups, including NIH SBIR/STTR, NSF, translational funding, evidence, regulatory readiness, and budgets.
Where to applyGrants for Robotics Startups: SBIR, Defense, NSF, and Pilot Funding
A practical guide to grants for robotics startups, including SBIR/STTR, NSF, DoD, NASA, field validation, TRL, pilot evidence, budgets, and commercialization strategy.
DocumentsGrant Work Plan Template: Work Packages, Gantt, Milestones, and Risks
Use this grant work plan template to structure work packages, tasks, owners, deliverables, Gantt timing, dependencies, and risk registers.
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🇺🇸DoD · United States
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Funds Mississippi State University alone to build a defense center studying narratives, with no other applicant considered.
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🇺🇸DoD · United States
Supports small business and non-traditional teams across defense components in a shared topic flow.
APFIT-1 — Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies
🇺🇸DoD · United States
Supports small business and non-traditional contractors with procurement bridge funding for pre-production solutions.
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Supports advanced functional materials research in the United States through Air Force opportunities.
Air Dominance BAA
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Funds air dominance innovation in sensing, autonomy, and engagement systems for national security priorities.