Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Opportunities

The SBIR program is a highly specialized form of funding for small firms (less than 500 employees) to perform cutting-edge R&D that addresses the nation's most critical scientific and engineering needs. These needs span the technology spectrum -- from aviation and agriculture to medicine and manufacturing. This federal government program is administered by 10 federal agencies for the purpose of helping to provide early-stage Research and Development funding to small technology companies (or individual entrepreneurs who form a company). Solicitations are released periodically from each of the agencies and present technical topics of R&D which the agency is interested in funding.

FAST Program - Early Stage R&D Funding
Technology businesses and entrepreneurs in Virginia searching for R&D funding now have another resource at Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology (CIT). The Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program grant encourages Virginia's smaller technology companies to apply for Small Business Innovative Research awards (SBIRs) and Small Business Technology Transfer awards (STTRs) from federal agencies. CIT has established business assistance, training, and awards programs to help interested technology companies in Virginia secure SBIR and STTR grants and to help commercialize the technology.

• TechStart BootCamp -- This one-day course provides an informative overview of issues specific to tech based companies interested in learning how to grow their business.

• NxLeveL Training Classes -- Managed and run through Virginia's Small Business Development Centers around the state, this 10-12 session, 30-36 hour course provides practical, hands-on approaches to developing a small business - whether just starting out or ready to grow. Combines education, counseling, and networking to help potential entrepreneurs plan for their next level of success.

• Mentoring & Guidance Support - Free Commercialization Services --
  Engage with SBIR experienced companies in mentoring relationships to enhance the chance of successful commercialization of SBIR-funded technologies.

• Business Advisory Services -- Through five Entrepreneurship Centers across the state, young tech businesses can utilize advisory services for equity/capital structure review, term sheet review, business plan review, financial statement analysis, marketing analysis, pricing analysis, marketing plan review, marketing collateral, partnering, and much more.

• SBIR/STTR Proposal Assistance Award -- Assists in payment for SBIR (Small Business Innovative Research) Phase I & II proposal preparation to support companies that do not have the experience, staff or financial resources necessary for proposal preparation.

• SBIR/STTR Workshop -- CIT sponsored workshop takes you step by step through the writing of SBIR/STTR proposals.

• Innovation Award -- Provides project support for final phase of technology development life-cycle. Via FAST Partnership Program, a limited number of awards are available to those who have received Phase I and Phase II SBIR/STTR proposals.

Sponsored by NSF, SBIRworld.com offers information on programs, events, solicitations, and federal and state resources.

The National SBIR Program Resource Center is the only place on the world wide web where you can search all agencies' open SBIR/STTR solicitations at one time

Search SBIR awards through Community of Science.

SBIR National Conferences

Dawnbreaker, a professional services firm providing commercialization assistance to companies developing SBIR, STTR and ATP programs.