About NSF Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR)
The NSF Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program encourages the submission of innovative proposals that show promise of commercial and societal impact in almost all areas of technology (except drug development). Proposals should be driven by market and societal needs and opportunities, and should identify both the end users of the proposed technology and the proposed pathway to commercialization. The NSF Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) program seeks to transform scientific discovery into societal and economic benefit by catalyzing private sector commercialization of technological innovations. The program increases the incentive and opportunity for startups and small businesses to undertake cutting-edge, high-quality scientific research and development. They provide grants in phases: a proof-of-concept / feasibility grant (6-12 months, $225k) can potentially be followed by a longer development grant (2 years, $750k).