SBIR/STTR Funding

Need funding for your technology idea? Talk to HHS!

Small businesses are encouraged to submit their technology ideas to HHS for funding consideration. Researcher-initiated ideas are proposed via the SBIR and STTR Omnibus grant solicitations (also called funding opportunity announcements or FOAs). Applicants should speak with an HHS SBIR/STTR program manager BEFORE submitting an application. Program managers will discuss the Institute or Center (IC)’s interest in the proposed technology and can offer application-specific advice.

NIH Matchmaker can be used to conduct keyword searches of a particular topic area to identify ICs that have previously funded research in that area. Applicants can also search the 2018 Program Descriptions and Research Topics document to identify priority research areas of ICs, or email sbir@od.nih.gov for an SBIR/STTR program manager referral. Applicants should send program managers a brief abstract or overview of their technology at least one month before the SBIR/STTR standard deadline. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also participate in the HHS Omnibus SBIR solicitation.

Applicants may also apply via the SBIR/STTR targeted grant solicitations, and the annual HHS SBIR contract. The targeted SBIR/STTR grant solicitations are focused on specific research areas, and the HHS SBIR contract clearly requests certain types of technologies. View the Apply page to learn more about the difference between grants and contracts, and the Application Types page to learn about different funding options for small businesses. 

For more information about the budget, please view our Budget FAQs and the Fiscal Year 2018 SBA approved topics for budget waivers.

Submit Your Application

Use the SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Application Guide (Version E), and the Annotated SF424 (R&R) SBIR/STTR Form Set (FORMS-E) for step-by-step instructions on how to complete the application. Be mindful that the electronic submission process for HHS SBIR and STTR grants is multi-step, and can take six to eight weeks to complete the five registrations required prior to submission.