NIH SBIR/STTR Phase I
National Institutes of Health·United States
NIH feasibility award with a $323,090 budget guideline over 6 months to 2 years, for U.S. small business concerns working on biomedical and health technologies.
What you get
“A Phase I budget is $323,090 for a project timeline between 6 months to 2 years.”
Can you apply
Only United States small business concerns are eligible to submit applications to SBIR and STTR solicitations. Collaborating research institutions (e.g., universities) are subcontractors to the small businesses and may not apply as applicants. A small business concern is one that, at the time of award of Phase I and Phase II, meets all of the below criteria, as well as the Phase I to Phase II Transition Benchmark Rate: Is organized for profit, with a place of business located in the United States, which operates primarily within the United States or which makes a significant contribution to the United States economy through payment of taxes or use of American products, materials, or labor; ... Be a concern which is more than 50% directly owned and controlled by one or more individuals (who are citizens or permanent resident aliens of the United States) ... Has, including its affiliates, not more than 500 employees. Small business concerns that are more than 50% owned by multiple venture capital operating companies, hedge funds, private equity firms, or any combination of these are NOT eligible to apply to the NIH STTR program. Principal Investigator (PI): SBIR - Primary employment (> 50%) should be with the small business; STTR - PI must be employed by either the partnering research institution or small business. STTR requires a partnership with a non-profit research institution (e.g. university).
When
Not open yet. The next round is listed below.
Upcoming
- Standard due date April 2027closes 5 Apr 2027 · 249 days left
- Standard due date January 2027closes 5 Jan 2027 · 159 days left
- Standard due date September 2026closes 8 Sept 2026 · 40 days left
What National Institutes of Health funds
NIH sets aside more than $1.4 billion of its R&D budget for the SBIR and STTR small business programs, funding U.S. small businesses building biomedical innovations from research tools and digital health software to diagnostics, drugs and devices. Non-dilutive: NIH takes no ownership of the business.
Everything National Institutes of Health funds →Details
Most small business applications to NIH are submitted to the SBIR and STTR parent announcements, which do not specify a topic. Individual NIH Institutes and Centers can set their own budget limits, and NIH holds an SBA waiver allowing larger Phase I and Phase II awards on approved waiver topics. Applicants can also start at Fast-Track (Phase I and II in one application) or Direct to Phase II if feasibility is already demonstrated.