One NC SBIR/STTR Matching Funds
Funds North Carolina businesses by adding state resources after they secure federal innovation awards.
Eligibility · United States · US-NC
The One NC SBIR/STTR Matching Funds program is administered by the North Carolina Department of Commerce through the Office of Science, Technology & Innovation (OSTI), authorized under NC General Statute § 143B-437.81. The program provides matching grants to North Carolina small businesses that have already received a federal SBIR or STTR Phase I award, with the explicit goal of bridging the funding gap between Phase I receipt and Phase II competition and intensifying Phase I research to improve Phase II win rates. The FY 2026 solicitation was released December 15, 2025 with separate portals in CyberGrants for SBIR Matching and STTR Matching applicants.
Eligible applicants are for-profit small businesses based and operating in North Carolina in a capital-intensive, high-risk STEM sector. The matching award equals 50% of the federal Phase I award amount, capped at $75,000. The FY 2026 pool is $1,876,560 with approximately 25 awards projected. In FY 2025, 51 matching awards totaling $3,686,533 were disbursed across 14 counties, supported by $14.2 million in underlying federal Phase I awards, a leverage ratio of nearly 4:1. The average FY 2025 matching award was approximately $72,300. Payments are structured with 75% disbursed at grant start and 25% upon submission of the federal Phase II proposal. Companies must apply within 45 days of receiving the federal Phase I award notification.
Since FY 2006, the matching program has issued 630 awards totaling nearly $39.8 million to 525 unique North Carolina businesses, supporting over 4,000 jobs and contributing to $9.6 billion in follow-on funding. The program has not been funded in certain years due to legislative appropriations (most recently FY 2020), making active cycles significant for eligible businesses. To position for an award, companies should apply promptly after federal notification, use the correct CyberGrants portal (SBIR vs. STTR), document the federal award letter, and verify county tier standing. The FY 2026 window closes June 30, 2026 or when the pool is depleted.
Matching grants for North Carolina small businesses that have received a federal SBIR or STTR Phase I award, bridging funding to strengthen Phase II competitiveness.
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