NIH Small Business Innovation Research / Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR)
NIH's small-business programs funding the development and commercialization of biomedical technologies.
Official program page- Sponsor
- National Institutes of Health
- Mechanism
- SBIR/STTR
- Typical award
- Phase I awards are commonly around $150K-$300K; Phase II awards often reach $1M-$2M+. NIH publishes hard caps and periodically approved exceptions.
- Deadlines
- Standard cycles are generally Apr 5, Sep 5, and Jan 5, alongside targeted solicitations and contract topics.
What it funds
- Phase I feasibility studies
- Phase II full research and development
- Commercialization of drugs, devices, diagnostics, and health IT
Who can apply
U.S. small businesses that meet SBA size and ownership rules. STTR requires a formal partnership with a nonprofit research institution.
Best for
A startup or small company translating research into a commercial health product.
Figures and deadlines change year to year: always confirm current details on the official program page before applying.
Related programs
All NIH opportunitiesNSF's small-business programs funding startups developing deep-technology innovations with commercial potential.
A shorter NIH grant for exploratory, high-risk/high-reward work that doesn't yet have extensive preliminary data.
NIH's flagship, investigator-initiated grant for a discrete, mature research project.
Managing a NIH SBIR/STTR proposal?
GrantsManager tracks the deadline, budget, and submission from first draft to award.