NIDCR SBIR/STTR

NIDCR SBIR/STTR

Supports United States. small businesses developing dental, oral, and craniofacial health technologies.

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) participates in the NIH Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, which together reserve a statutory portion of the NIH extramural R&D budget for US small businesses. NIDCR-focused SBIR and STTR awards support applied R&D toward commercialization of innovations in dental, oral, and craniofacial health, including biomaterials, medical devices, diagnostics, digital health tools, behavioral interventions, and precision medicine applications. Applications are accepted under the NIH omnibus SBIR/STTR solicitations, which open multiple receipt windows each year on the standard NIH due-date schedule.

Phase I SBIR (R43) awards support feasibility studies, and Phase II (R44) awards fund continued development and initial commercialization planning. STTR awards (R41 Phase I, R42 Phase II) require a formal subcontract with a US research institution that performs at least 30 percent of the funded work. Award caps and page limits are set by the NIH omnibus solicitation rather than NIDCR specifically, and applicants must consult the current solicitation PDF for exact figures. Only US-incorporated small businesses with generally fewer than 500 employees qualify; universities, nonprofits, and individuals are not eligible. Venture-capital-majority-owned companies may apply via the NIH opt-in certification path.

NIDCR SBIR/STTR applicants compete alongside small businesses proposing work relevant to any NIH institute participating in the omnibus, but peer reviewers familiar with dental and craniofacial science evaluate NIDCR-designated applications. Success is aided by early communication with a NIDCR program officer to confirm that the proposed product addresses an identified gap in oral health and aligns with the institute's Strategic Plan 2021–2026. The NIH SBIR program was reauthorized through September 30, 2031, providing multi-year program continuity.