Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track Programs: Developing Deep Technologies that Advance U.S. Competitiveness and Security

NSF invests in scientific discoveries, technological breakthroughs, and transformative innovations that strengthen economic growth, enhance security, and improve the lives of Americans and people around the world. In support of this mission, NSF is relaunching its SBIR/STTR programs (also known as America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF) following enactment of the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act to invest in startups and small businesses transforming high-risk technologies into products and services with commercial impacts. By investing federal R&D funds in start-ups and small businesses, NSF strengthens the national economy by stimulating private sector innovation, commercializing federally-funded research outputs, and supporting the American scientific enterprise. This investment enhances job creation while developing and expanding the U.S. workforce. The NSF SBIR/STTR programs fund across nearly all technology areas and market sectors; the programs do not solicit specific technologies or procure goods and services from startups and small businesses. Each company can receive up to $2 million for R&D. NSF takes no equity and awardees keep full ownership of their company and intellectual property. Funding opportunities are available through the NSF SBIR/STTR programs: Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track, and Supplements. Separately, NSF welcomes Strategic Breakthrough proposals, upon recommendation from the cognizant Program Officer, for Phase II awardees. In addition to these SBIR/STTR programs, NSF is also separately piloting a new emphasis area (see here) focused on enabling technologies that include next-generation instrumentation, novel experimental platforms, and other scientific equipment to advance the frontiers of scientific discovery and strengthen the American scientific and engineering enterprise. Eligibility: *Who May Serve as PI: Who May Serve as PI: The primary employment of the Principal Investigator (PI) must be with the small business at the time of award and for the duration of the award, unless a new PI is named. Primary employment is defined as at least 51 percent employed by the small business. NSF normally considers a full-time work week to be 40 hours and considers employment elsewhere greater than 19.6 hours per week to conflict with this requirement. Rarely, deviations from this requirement may occur, and must be approved in writing by the Funding Agreement Program Officer after consultation with the agency SBIR/STTR program manager/coordinator. The PI must have a legal right to work for the proposing company in the United States, as evidenced by citizenship, permanent residency, or an appropriate visa. The PI does not need to be associated with an academic institution. There are no PI degree requirements (i.e., the PI is not required to hold a Ph.D. or any other degree). The PI must devote the following levels of effort: For Phase I: a minimum of one calendar month per six months of performance For Phase II: a minimum of one calendar month per six months of performance For Fast-Track: a minimum of three calendar months per six months of performance. CFDA: 47.084