DOE SBIR Phase I

DOE SBIR Phase I is the feasibility round in the Department of Energy's SBIR line. In 2026, management moved from the Office of Science to the Office of Technology Commercialization, although the Office of Science page still carries the program information. It supports U.S.-incorporated small businesses working on DOE mission areas, from energy innovation and advanced manufacturing to quantum information science, critical materials, semiconductors, biotechnology, and environmental management. The program sits at the front of a two-stage path and is meant for proof-of-concept work, not mature commercialization. The Phase I award range in the structured record runs from $200,000 to $250,000, with a median actual award of $225,000 and an annual cadence. Applicants must be for-profit U.S. small businesses, with U.S. incorporation and majority U.S. ownership, and the eligible technology band starts at low TRL 2 and extends to TRL 4. The record also flags that the program cannot double-fund the same work through another source, and it excludes non-profits, universities, individuals, and research organizations. DOE's FY2026 schedule used two releases per phase, which underscores the program's topic-driven rhythm rather than a single once-a-year deadline. Applicants do best when they align a compact technical milestone with a DOE mission problem and show why the work belongs inside one of the department's defined topic areas. The strongest submissions are specific, technically credible, and clearly anchored to a path from feasibility into later-stage development.

No upcoming rounds verified. Cadence: Annual.