NIDA SBIR/STTR

NIDA SBIR/STTR

Supports United States. small businesses advancing drug abuse intervention and treatment technologies.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) channels more than $50 million per year to small U.S. businesses through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Individual projects can receive up to $3.4 million in total funding across all phases. All awards are non-dilutive — grantees retain full equity in their companies. NIDA's SBIR/STTR portfolio focuses on pharmacotherapeutic products, medical devices, and other drug abuse research and treatment technologies, spanning areas such as addiction neuroscience, overdose prevention tools, diagnostics, and behavioral health platforms.

Eligibility under SBIR requires that the applicant be a U.S.-based for-profit small business with fewer than 500 employees, majority U.S.-owned, and independently operated. Nonprofit organizations, universities, and research institutions cannot receive SBIR awards as lead applicants, though they may serve as subcontractors. The STTR mechanism requires a formal research-institution partner with at least 30% of the work performed at that organization. Venture capital-backed companies can apply through NIH's special opt-in SBIR pathway. Award cycles are tied to NIH omnibus SBIR solicitations published on grants.gov, typically accepting applications on standard dates.

NIDA program staff strongly encourage pre-submission consultation and have published Target Product Profiles (TPPs) to help applicants align their technology with agency priorities before applying. Portfolio reviews and application guidance materials are available through the NIDA SBIR office. Phase I feasibility awards follow the standard NIH cap of approximately $300,000 over 6–12 months; Phase II development awards scale upward with the cumulative per-project ceiling of $3.4 million. Organizations at any early stage — from startup to established small business — can apply as long as they meet the employee and ownership criteria.