Eligibility Criteria

SBIR

Small Business Innovation Research

The Small Business Innovation Research Program funds early-stage research and development at small companies. To participate in the SBIR Program, a company must be:

• An organized for-profit U.S. business
• 500 employees or fewer, including affiliates
• Principal Investigator's primary employment must be with the small business concern at the time of award and for the duration of the project period
• Small business concern must be:
  • At least 51% U.S.- owned by individuals and independently operated, or
  • At least 51% owned and controlled by a for-profit business concern that is at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more individuals

STTR

Small Business Technology Transfer

The Small Business Technology Transfer Program is similar in structure to SBIR but funds cooperative research and development projects involving a small business and a research institution (i.e., university, federally-funded center, nonprofit research institution). The purpose of STTR is to create an effective vehicle for moving ideas from our nation's research institutions to the commercial market.

To participate in the STTR Program, a company must be:

• a U.S. for-profit small business of 500 or fewer employees; there is no size limit on the research institution
• located in the United States
• at least 51 percent U.S.-owned and independently operated,
• engaged in a formal cooperative research and development effort with the research institution:
  • the effort must be managed by the small business and an minimum of 40 percent of the work must be done by the small business
  • the research institution must be a U.S. college or university, federally-funded research and development center, or non-profit research institution
• and, the principal investigator may be employed at the small business or research institution