Government Contracting by — SBIR/STTR Agency

The Department of Defense is the largest SBIR/STTR participating agency, funding thousands of small business innovation projects annually across all military branches and defense agencies. DOD topics span advanced materials, cybersecurity, autonomous systems, directed energy, hypersonics, space technologies, and battlefield communications.

NIH operates the second-largest SBIR/STTR program, funding biomedical and public health innovations through its 27 Institutes and Centers. NIH uses an omnibus solicitation model allowing small businesses to propose topics aligned with any institute's mission, from cancer therapeutics to neurological devices.

DOE funds SBIR/STTR projects across clean energy, nuclear security, basic science, and environmental management. Topics are released through the Office of Science, ARPA-E, NNSA, and program offices covering fossil energy, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and nuclear waste cleanup.

NSF's SBIR/STTR program, branded as America's Seed Fund, is unique in accepting proposals across all areas of science and engineering without predefined topics. NSF emphasizes deep technology commercialization and provides extensive I-Corps entrepreneurial training alongside funding.

NASA's SBIR/STTR program funds innovations supporting space exploration, aeronautics, and Earth science missions. Topics are developed by NASA's mission directorates and align with the agency's technology taxonomy, covering propulsion, life support, entry/descent/landing, and remote sensing technologies.

Beyond NIH, HHS components including CDC, FDA, ACF, and AHRQ operate their own SBIR/STTR programs funding public health tools, regulatory science innovations, healthcare quality improvements, and social services technology.

NRC's SBIR/STTR program funds nuclear safety and security innovations including advanced reactor modeling, radiation detection, nuclear waste management, and regulatory analysis tools. The program is small but highly specialized.

CDC's SBIR/STTR program funds public health technology innovations including disease surveillance tools, laboratory diagnostics, injury prevention devices, and occupational safety technologies through NIOSH. Topics align with CDC strategic priorities for protecting public health.

FDA's SBIR/STTR program funds regulatory science innovations to improve drug, device, food, and tobacco product evaluation. Topics focus on analytical methods, toxicology tools, biomarker development, and technologies that accelerate the regulatory review process.

SBA administers the overall SBIR/STTR program, setting government-wide policy, maintaining the SBIR.gov portal, and enforcing small business eligibility requirements. While SBA does not issue its own research topics, it coordinates across all 11 participating agencies and manages the program's $4+ billion annual budget.

DARPA's SBIR/STTR program funds breakthrough defense technologies that push the boundaries of what is possible. As a DOD component, DARPA issues its own highly specific topics across biological technologies, microsystems, information innovation, tactical technology, and strategic technology offices.

USDA's SBIR program funds agricultural innovations across food safety, sustainable farming, rural development, and forestry. Topics are defined by USDA research agencies including ARS, NIFA, and the Forest Service, focusing on technologies that support American agriculture competitiveness.

DHS's SBIR program funds technologies addressing border security, cybersecurity, disaster resilience, transportation security, and chemical/biological defense. Topics are developed by DHS Science and Technology Directorate in coordination with operational components like CBP, TSA, CISA, and FEMA.

DOT's SBIR program funds innovations in surface transportation, aviation, maritime, and pipeline safety. Topics are developed across DOT modal administrations including FHWA, FAA, FRA, FTA, and NHTSA, emphasizing safety, efficiency, and infrastructure modernization.

EPA's SBIR program funds environmental technology innovations for pollution prevention, water treatment, air quality monitoring, and sustainable materials. EPA particularly emphasizes commercial potential and environmental justice in its evaluation criteria.

NIST's SBIR program, under the Department of Commerce, funds measurement science, standards development, and manufacturing innovations. Topics align with NIST's laboratory programs covering cybersecurity frameworks, advanced manufacturing, quantum science, and forensic science.

The Department of Education's SBIR program funds educational technology innovations through the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). Topics focus on learning tools, assessment technologies, special education solutions, and evidence-based interventions for K-12 and postsecondary education.

DOI's SBIR program funds technologies supporting natural resource management, geological survey, wildlife conservation, and land management. Topics come from USGS, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management priorities.

The VA SBIR program funds innovations serving veteran healthcare and benefits delivery. Topics span prosthetics, telehealth, mental health tools, electronic health records integration, and assistive technologies for disabled veterans.

NOAA's SBIR program funds innovations in weather forecasting, ocean observation, satellite technology, fisheries management, and coastal resilience. Topics support NOAA's mission to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts.