Small Business Innovation Research

DARPA knows that the ideas leading to breakthrough technologies for national security often start small. To maximize the pool of innovative proposal concepts it receives, DARPA strongly encourages participation by all capable sources: industry, academia, and individuals.

Traditional defense contractors, corporations and startups alike are critical parts of the innovation ecosystem in which DARPA operates and all of these--whether large and small-- can serve as performers of DARPA-funded R&D to generate revolutionary technologies and capabilities.

DARPA knows that the ideas that lead to breakthrough technologies for national security often start small. To maximize the pool of innovative proposal concepts it receives, DARPA strongly encourages participation by non-traditional performers, including small businesses, academic and research institutions and first-time government contractors.

The Technology Transition and Commercialization Team (T2C Team) administers the DARPA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Transition & Commercialization Support Program (TCSP). The TCSP is a voluntary participation program offered to DARPA-funded SBIR/STTR Phase II projects during the contract period of performance (typically 24 months). The goal is to increase the potential for these companies to move their developed technologies, solutions or products beyond Phase II and into the Department of Defense military Services, other federal agencies and/or the commercial market.

Today, more than ever, the Department of Defense (DoD) relies upon external contractors to carry out a wide range of missions and shares sensitive data with these entities. Inadequate safeguards threaten America’s national security and put servicemembers lives at risk.