Nebraska Innovation Fund (NIF) Prototype Grants

Nebraska Innovation Fund (NIF) Prototype Grants sit under the Nebraska Department of Economic Development and the Business Innovation Act. The program backs Nebraska businesses that are developing new products or improving existing processes, with a competitive matching-grant structure aimed at early commercialization work. Awards go up to $150,000 per project. Standard cost sharing requires at least a 50% match from non-state funds, with a lower 25% match for value-added agriculture projects; reimbursement is 66% of eligible costs, or 80% for value-added agriculture. Eligible uses include employee wages, contractor fees, materials, and limited equipment or tooling. The program runs on a rolling basis until annual funding is exhausted, and the FY26-27 round opens on or before July 1, 2026. It is best matched to Nebraska-based businesses with fewer than 500 employees, operating in non-retail primary industries, that can bring a real product-development plan and document their matching funds. That combination makes it a practical fit for firms that need disciplined prototype capital.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.