Agencies and Components

The agencies and offices that run SBIR/STTR programs or fund defense and health research.

• AFWERXAFWERX is the Department of the Air Force's innovation arm and the only organization in the Department that manages and executes its SBIR and STTR programs for Air Force and Space Force needs.
• ARPA-HThe Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health is an HHS agency, set up in 2022 as an independent entity within NIH, that funds high-risk health research and issues its own SBIR and STTR contracts.
• DARPAThe Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is a DoW (formerly DoD) agency that makes early investments in breakthrough technology for national security and awards SBIR and STTR contracts through its Small Business Programs Office.
• DoW SBIR/STTR ProgramThe Department of War (formerly Department of Defense) SBIR/STTR Program publishes defense research topics from its components, such as the Army, Navy, Air Force and DARPA, as Broad Agency Announcements on DSIP.
• NIH SEEDSEED (Small business Education and Entrepreneurial Development) is the NIH office that coordinates SBIR and STTR across HHS, including NIH, CDC, FDA and ACL, and runs entrepreneurship support for awardees.
• NSF America's Seed FundAmerica's Seed Fund powered by NSF is the National Science Foundation's SBIR/STTR program, which gives startups and small businesses grants for technically risky research and development without taking equity.
• SBA (U.S. Small Business Administration)The U.S. Small Business Administration issues the SBIR/STTR Policy Directive, guides and monitors the federal agencies that run SBIR and STTR, and reports on the programs to Congress.