Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)

NIH has congressionally mandated set-aside programs for U.S. small businesses to engage in research and development activities that have strong potential for commercialization. Awards are intended to:

  • Stimulate technological innovation.
  • Use small business to meet federal research and development needs.
  • Increase private sector commercialization of innovations derived from federal research and development.
  • Foster and encourage participation by socially and economically disadvantaged small business and women-owned business concerns in technological innovation.

The NIH SBIR/STTR program consists of two phases:

  • Phase 1 (R41/R43) establishes the scientific and technical merit and feasibility as well as the potential for commercialization of the proposed research.
  • The Phase 2 (R42/R44) grant continues research or research and development (R&D) efforts initiated in Phase 1.

NIH SBIR/STTR grant solicitation announcements and additional information are available on the NIH Small Business Funding Opportunities Web site. You can also find information on the difference between SBIR and STTR application requirements on this website.

NIGMS-Specific SBIR Guidance

The goal of NIGMS is to support innovative SBIR projects that could benefit the research communities related to its mission. SBIR/STTR grant applications are accepted in most of the scientific areas for which the Institute provides support. Specific topics of research interest to NIGMS can be found here [PDF]. The NIGMS SBIR program like the vast majority of NIGMS-funded research is investigator-initiated. Applicants propose what to do, how to do it, and the best path toward commercialization.

NIGMS will not accept applications with budget requests exceeding the statutory budget limitations defined in the specific SBIR/STTR funding opportunity announcements hard cap with the exception of project can be considered to fit one or more of the SBA-approved topics for awards over the statutory budget limitations listed in Appendix A of the 2020 SBIR/STTR Program Descriptions and Topics [PDF]. Applicants who are considering a project with a budget exceeding the hard budget cap defined in the funding opportunity announcement should contact the NIGMS SBIR coordinator early in the process of application preparation and at least six weeks prior to the anticipated submission due date. In all cases, applicants should propose a budget that is reasonable and appropriate for completion of the research project. NIGMS support of Phase 2B competing renewal grant applications is limited and should be discussed in advance with the NIGMS SBIR coordinator.

NIGMS does participate in the Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) program designed to facilitate the transition of previously funded SBIR and STTR Phase 2 and Phase 2B projects to the commercialization stage by providing additional support for technical assistance.

List of NIGMS funding announcements (program announcements, requests for applications and notices) for the SBIR and STTR Programs.

For information about NIGMS SBIR programs, e-mail Dr. Dmitriy Krepkiy.

For information about NIGMS SBIR/STTR grants administration and management, email NIGMS_GAB_SBIR@nigms.nih.gov.

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