DOE SBIR/STTR — ASCR Topics
Funds small companies working on computing, quantum, and software projects in the United States.
DOE SBIR/STTR — ASCR Topics is the small-business route inside the annual DOE SBIR solicitation for advanced scientific computing work. The topic areas cover HPC software, quantum computing, AI for science, and high-speed scientific networking, and the program sits under DOE Office of Science ASCR. Phase I awards are about $200,000 over 6 to 12 months, while Phase II awards are about $1.6 million over 24 months. Eligibility is limited to U.S. small businesses with fewer than 500 employees and majority U.S. ownership, and the program runs on an annual cycle. Management transferred to DOE's Office of Technology Commercialization in April 2026. The strongest proposals pair a small business with a concrete technical product plan and a topic that maps cleanly to DOE computing priorities. Companies that can show credible software, systems, or AI capability work are better positioned than firms with only a loose research concept. The topic list rewards teams that can turn a research idea into a defined deliverable.
Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.