Summer is about to get busy with many upcoming SBIR/STTR Funding Opportunities opening in August! As a refresher, the SBIR/STTR programs are government initiatives with a focus on discovering and funding high-risk, cutting-edge exploratory research and technological breakthroughs. You could be the next SBIR awardee from one or more of these agencies:
Department of Defense (DoD)
Department of Energy (DOE)
National Science Foundation (NSF)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
National Institute of Health (NIH)
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
DoD
This year DoD is investing over $2 BILLION in SBIR/STTR funding, which is roughly 50% of the overall SBIR/STTR budget! Additionally, the DoD invests in the most diverse portfolio of technologies, so chances are they're looking for exactly what you're developing!
To help you get a piece of this $2 Billion pie to launch a new product and grow your business, we offer an 8-week, all virtual course that guides you through the process of constructing a competitive Phase I proposal. You'll be given access to custom templates, as well as 1-on-1 mentorship, proposal reviews and personalized feedback. Depending on your technology, you will be enrolled in our Topics or AFWERX track.
Topics:
Our Topics track will begin when the DoD releases topics on Wed, Aug 23. We encourage you to review them carefully. These are specific to each DoD component (e.g., Air Force, Army, Navy, SOCOM, etc.) and are subject to change from one solicitation cycle to another. Depending on your selected component, the award amount will range from ~$100K-300K and the proposal length can be anywhere from 10-20 pages – all subject to change.
If you have an innovating technology but do not see a fitting topic, AFWERX may be a great alternative.
AFWERX:
AFWERX or the Open Topic is the front door to working with the Department of the Air Force. It will open on Wed, Aug 30. Unlike traditional topics where they give you the problem, you will identify the problem (or defense need) and propose how your solution will benefit the warfighter. The Air Force then will evaluate the proposal – a Slide Deck no longer than 25 slides – to determine if the project is something they would like to conduct a feasibility study on. The award amount will be $75K for a 3-month performance period, during which it will be imperative to find an AF customer willing to work with you on the proof of concept.
Spots are limited and the deadline to apply is Wed, Aug 23 by 11:59 PM CST
DOE
Topics for the Department of Energy FY24 SBIR/STTR Phase I Release 1 Funding Opportunity Announcement have been issued and are available here. The following DOE program offices are participating in this solicitation:
Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR)
Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
Office of Fusion Energy Sciences (FES)
Office of High Energy Physics (HEP)
Office of Nuclear Physics (NP)
There is still time to apply to our DOE Lab!
1) Please review DOE topics and subtopics ASAP
2) For topics you are interested in, contact the POCs by Mon, Aug 7 and let us know how those conversations go (POCs are listed under each topic)
3) Be ready to submit your first drafts for our review by Sun, Aug 27.
NSF
Have you submitted a Project Pitch to the NSF and have been invited to submit a full proposal? If so, the NSF Lab is for you! It opens Tue, Aug 1, and you will be submitting your proposal by the Wed, Nov 1 deadline.
NASA Ignite
This is the second time that NASA will have a non-traditional SBIR funding opportunity that will open Tue, Aug 1. Candidates working on out-of-this-world tech that supports space exploration or state-of-the-art innovations that improve life on Earth may apply to this ~2-month program that will tentatively end on Thu, Sep 21.
NIH & USDA
Last but not least, check out NIH Contracts opportunity that closes Tue, Nov 7 and
USDA that closes Tue, Sep 19.
Email us at okcatalyst@ou.edu if interested.