DARPA SBIR/STTR

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's SBIR/STTR program is DARPA's small-business route for breakthrough national-security technologies. It sits inside a federal agency with a DARPA RDT&E budget share reserved for SBIR and STTR, and the topics are released under the DoD-wide monthly BAA cycle. The program is tied to DARPA's Aerospace Projects, Biological Technologies, Defense Sciences, Information Innovation, Microsystems Technology, Strategic Technology, and Tactical Technology offices. Phase I awards are typically about $250,000 over roughly six months. Phase II awards are about $1.8 million over 24 to 36 months, with a Phase II Enhancement of up to $500,000 at a 1:1 match. Direct-to-Phase II is available when a topic opts in, and the combined SBIR/STTR share equals 3.65 percent of DARPA's RDT&E budget. Applicants need a U.S.-registered for-profit small business operating in the United States, with majority U.S. founder ownership, defense relevance, and work typically in TRL 2 to 6. The strongest proposals are tightly aligned to a program manager's problem statement and show a credible path from feasibility to transition. Successful applicants usually show a narrow technical fit, a realistic transition path, and clear defense relevance.

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