NSF Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track Programs: A Pilot Emphasis on Scientific Instrumentation

NSF invests in scientific discoveries, technological breakthroughs, and transformative innovations that strengthen economic growth, enhance security, and improve the lives of Americans and people around the world. Our ability to support that mission requires a robust scientific and engineering (S&E) enterprise in the United States that allows scientists to innovate at the frontier. In addition to funding scientists, America needs next-generation scientific instrumentation that allows scientists to pursue new innovations. In many fields, it is critical that this new scientific instrumentation is developed in the United States.

In support of this mission, NSF is initiating a pilot emphasis area for its SBIR/STTR programs to invest in startups and small businesses that are specifically developing enabling technologies that include next-generation instrumentation, novel experimental platforms, and other scientific equipment to advance the frontiers of scientific discovery and strengthen the American scientific and engineering enterprise. This encompasses novel instrumentation necessary for the coming era of AI-driven discoveries. This pilot will prioritize investing in the necessary infrastructure to support entirely new fields of scientific discovery, making new technological breakthroughs and transformative applications possible. Through this approach, NSF will continue to lead in propelling the scientific enterprise to new frontiers.

This pilot emphasis area for the NSF SBIR/STTR programs funds across enabling technology areas and market sectors in alignment with the above goals; the programs do not solicit specific technologies for the purpose of procuring goods and services for the agency from startups and small businesses.

NSF will continue to invest in other deep-tech ventures through the historic NSF SBIR/STTR programs available here.

Funding opportunities are available through the NSF SBIR/STTR programs: Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track, and Supplements. Each company can receive up to $2.0 million for R&D. Separately, NSF welcomes Strategic Breakthrough proposals, upon recommendation from the Program Officer, for Phase II awardees. NSF takes no equity and awardees keep full ownership of their company and intellectual property.

Expanding Participation in STEM and Gold Standard Science:

NSF prioritizes cutting-edge discovery science and engineering research, advancing technology and innovation, and creating opportunities for all Americans. NSF also expects the highest standards of scientific rigor, integrity and adherence to tenets of Gold Standard Science in proposals, as appropriate for the field of science and research modality.

*Who May Serve as PI:

Who May Serve as PI: The primary employment of the Principal Investigator (PI) must be with the small business at the time of award and for the duration of the award, unless a new PI is named. Primary employment is defined as at least 51 percent employed by the small business. NSF normally considers a full-time work week to be 40 hours and considers employment elsewhere greater than 19.6 hours per week to conflict with this requirement. Occasionally, deviations from this requirement may occur, and must be approved in writing by the Funding Agreement program officer after consultation with the agency SBIR/STTR program manager/coordinator.

The PI must have a legal right to work for the proposing company in the United States, as evidenced by citizenship, permanent residency, or an appropriate visa. The PI does not need to be associated with an academic institution. There are no PI degree requirements (i.e., the PI is not required to hold a Ph.D. or any other degree). A PI must devote a minimum of one calendar month of effort per six months of performance to an NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I project.

The PI must devote the following levels of effort:

For Phase I: a minimum of one calendar month per six months of performance

For Phase II: a minimum of one calendar month per six months of performance

For Fast-Track: a minimum of three calendar months per six months of performance.

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