NIH SBIR / STTR — Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer

NIH SEED runs the SBIR and STTR programs as NIH's main small-business funding route. The portfolio supports early-stage life-science R&D for US small businesses, with 24 NIH institutes and centers participating and annual support described on the SEED site as more than $1.4 billion. Applications are accepted three times a year, with standard due dates on January 5, April 5, and September 5. Phase I awards support feasibility with up to $323,090 over six months to two years, while Phase II awards can reach $2,153,927 over one to three years. STTR requires a formal partnership with a nonprofit research institution, and SEED also offers Fast-Track, Direct-to-Phase II, and CRP as follow-on or accelerated paths. The route is for for-profit small businesses with US registration and US operations; nonprofits, universities, research organizations, and individuals are excluded. It is strongest for companies that are still proving feasibility but already have a credible development plan, especially when the work is biomedical and the business can move from research toward commercialization. NIH currently has no active SBIR or STTR NOFOs, so the practical timing is between cycles rather than on-demand.

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