NSF Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Fast-Track Pilot Programs

The NSF SBIR/STTR and SBIR/STTR Fast-Track pilot programs support moving scientific excellence and technological innovation from the lab to the market. By funding startups and small businesses, NSF helps build a strong national economy and stimulates the creation of novel products, services, and solutions in private, public, or government sectors with potential for broad impact; strengthens the role of small business in meeting federal research and development needs; increases the commercial application of federally supported research results; and develops and increases the US workforce, especially by fostering and encouraging participation by socially and economically disadvantaged and women-owned small businesses.


These NSF SBIR/STTR Fast-Track pilot programs provide fixed amount cooperative agreements for thedevelopment of a broad range of technologiesbased on discoveries in science and engineeringwith potential for societal and economic impacts. Unlike fundamental or basic research activities that focus on scientific and engineering discovery itself, the NSF SBIR/STTR Fast-Track pilot programs support the creation of opportunities to move use-inspired and translational discoveries out of the lab and into the market or other use at scale, through startups and small businesses.The NSF SBIR/STTR Fast-Track pilot programs do not solicit specific technologies or procure goods and services from startups and small businesses.Any invention conceivedorreduced to practice with the assistance ofSBIR/STTR fundingis subject to the Bayh-Dole Act. For more information refer toSBIR/STTR Frequently Asked Questions #75.


NSF promotes inclusion by encouraging proposals from diverse populations and geographic locations.


The traditional NSF SBIR/STTR programs include two funding Phases – Phase I and Phase II. All proposers to the programs must first apply for Phase I funding – there is no direct-to-Phase II option. Under a traditional NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I award, a small business can receive non-dilutive funding for research and development (R&D) to demonstrate technical feasibility over 6 to 12 months and then, after completion of a Phase I project, companies may apply for Phase II funding to further develop the proposed technology.


There aresignificantbenefits for SBIR/STTRFast-Track recipients:the submission of only oneproposalfor Phase I and Phase IIand a faster transition from Phase I to Phase II.While startups and small businesses face many challenges, NSF SBIR/STTR Fast-Track funding is intended to specifically focus on challenges associated with technological innovation; that is, on the creation of new products, services, and other scalable solutions based on fundamental science or engineering. A successful Fast-Track proposal must demonstrate how NSF funding will help the small business create a proof-of-concept or prototype by retiring technical risk.


NSF seeks unproven, leading-edge, technology innovations that demonstrate the following characteristics:


The innovations are underpinned and enabled by a new scientific discovery or meaningful engineering innovation.
The innovations still require intensive technical research and development to be fully embedded in a reliable product or service.
The innovations have not yet been reduced to practice by anyone and it is not guaranteed, at present, that doing so is technically possible.
The innovations provide a strong competitive advantage that are not easily replicable by competitors (even technically proficient ones).
Once reduced to practice, the innovations are expected to result in a product or service that would either be disruptive to existing markets or create new markets/new market segments.


The NSF SBIR/STTR Fast-Track pilot programs focus on stimulating technical innovation from diverse entrepreneurs and start-ups by translating new scientific and engineering concepts into products and services that can be scaled and commercialized into sustainable businesses with significant societal benefits. The programs provide non-dilutive funding for research and development (R&D) of use-inspired scientific and engineering activities at the earliest stages of the company and technology development. During the course of the award, the emphasis is expected to shift from de-risking those aspects preventing the innovation from reaching technical feasibility and driving the intended impact to a greater focus on commercially relevant development activities that will allow the company to differentiate itself and drive new value propositions to the market and society.


NSF encourages input and participation from the full spectrum of diverse talent that society has to offer which includes underrepresented and underserved communities.


These NSF programs are governed by15 USC 638and the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended (42 USC §1861, et seq.).


Introduction to the Program


The NSF SBIR/STTR programs focus on stimulating technical innovation from diverse entrepreneurs and startups by translating new scientific and engineering discoveries emerging from the private sector, federal labs, and academia into products and services that can be scaled and commercialized into sustainable businesses with significant societal benefits.


These NSF SBIR/STTR Fast-Track pilot programs enable companies based on previous NSF awards (NSF award lineage) to submita single proposalthat, if awarded, can provide a faster pathway from Phase I to Phase II funding.Receipt of full funding under the Fast-Track pilot programs is contingent on the results of a company’s Phase II transition review.


The NSF SBIR/STTR Fast-Track pilot programs are part of theDirectorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP), which was recently launched to accelerate innovation and enhance economic competitiveness by catalyzing partnerships and investments that strengthen the links between fundamental research and technology development, deployment, and use.

The NSF SBIR/STTR and SBIR/STTR Fast-Track pilot programs support moving scientific excellence and technological innovation from the lab to the market. By funding startups and small businesses, NSF helps build a strong national economy and stimulates the creation of novel products, services, and solutions in private, public, or government sectors with potential for broad impact; strengthens the role of small business in meeting federal research and development needs; increases the commercial application of federally supported research results; and develops and increases the US workforce, especially by fostering and encouraging participation by socially and economically disadvantaged and women-owned small businesses.


These NSF SBIR/STTR Fast-Track pilot programs provide fixed amount cooperative agreements for thedevelopment of a broad range of technologiesbased on discoveries in science and engineeringwith potential for societal and economic impacts. Unlike fundamental or basic research activities that focus on scientific and engineering discovery itself, the NSF SBIR/STTR Fast-Track pilot programs support the creation of opportunities to move use-inspired and translational discoveries out of the lab and into the market or other use at scale, through startups and small businesses.The NSF SBIR/STTR Fast-Track pilot programs do not solicit specific technologies or procure goods and services from startups and small businesses.Any invention conceivedorreduced to practice with the assistance ofSBIR/STTR fundingis subject to the Bayh-Dole Act. For more information refer toSBIR/STTR Frequently Asked Questions #75.


NSF promotes inclusion by encouraging proposals from diverse populations and geographic locations.


The traditional NSF SBIR/STTR programs include two funding Phases – Phase I and Phase II. All proposers to the programs must first apply for Phase I funding – there is no direct-to-Phase II option. Under a traditional NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I award, a small business can receive non-dilutive funding for research and development (R&D) to demonstrate technical feasibility over 6 to 12 months and then, after completion of a Phase I project, companies may apply for Phase II funding to further develop the proposed technology.


There aresignificantbenefits for SBIR/STTRFast-Track recipients:the submission of only oneproposalfor Phase I and Phase IIand a faster transition from Phase I to Phase II.While startups and small businesses face many challenges, NSF SBIR/STTR Fast-Track funding is intended to specifically focus on challenges associated with technological innovation; that is, on the creation of new products, services, and other scalable solutions based on fundamental science or engineering. A successful Fast-Track proposal must demonstrate how NSF funding will help the small business create a proof-of-concept or prototype by retiring technical risk.


NSF seeks unproven, leading-edge, technology innovations that demonstrate the following characteristics:

• The innovations are underpinned and enabled by a new scientific discovery or meaningful engineering innovation.


• The innovations still require intensive technical research and development to be fully embedded in a reliable product or service.


• The innovations have not yet been reduced to practice by anyone and it is not guaranteed, at present, that doing so is technically possible.


• The innovations provide a strong competitive advantage that are not easily replicable by competitors (even technically proficient ones).


• Once reduced to practice, the innovations are expected to result in a product or service that would either be disruptive to existing markets or create new markets/new market segments.

The NSF SBIR/STTR Fast-Track pilot programs focus on stimulating technical innovation from diverse entrepreneurs and start-ups by translating new scientific and engineering concepts into products and services that can be scaled and commercialized into sustainable businesses with significant societal benefits. The programs provide non-dilutive funding for research and development (R&D) of use-inspired scientific and engineering activities at the earliest stages of the company and technology development. During the course of the award, the emphasis is expected to shift from de-risking those aspects preventing the innovation from reaching technical feasibility and driving the intended impact to a greater focus on commercially relevant development activities that will allow the company to differentiate itself and drive new value propositions to the market and society.


NSF encourages input and participation from the full spectrum of diverse talent that society has to offer which includes underrepresented and underserved communities.


These NSF programs are governed by15 USC 638and the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended (42 USC §1861, et seq.).


Introduction to the Program


The NSF SBIR/STTR programs focus on stimulating technical innovation from diverse entrepreneurs and startups by translating new scientific and engineering discoveries emerging from the private sector, federal labs, and academia into products and services that can be scaled and commercialized into sustainable businesses with significant societal benefits.


These NSF SBIR/STTR Fast-Track pilot programs enable companies based on previous NSF awards (NSF award lineage) to submita single proposalthat, if awarded, can provide a faster pathway from Phase I to Phase II funding.Receipt of full funding under the Fast-Track pilot programs is contingent on the results of a company’s Phase II transition review.


The NSF SBIR/STTR Fast-Track pilot programs are part of theDirectorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP), which was recently launched to accelerate innovation and enhance economic competitiveness by catalyzing partnerships and investments that strengthen the links between fundamental research and technology development, deployment, and use.

*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following:
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Small businesses concerns must meetALLof the following requirements:

• Proposers that have submitted aSBIR/STTR Fast-Track Project Pitch and received an official invitation from a cognizant NSF SBIR/STTR Program Officerwithinthe 4 months precedingthe proposal submission date. To start this process, proposers must first create a log in and submit a Project Pitch document via the NSF SBIR/STTR Fast-Track Project Pitchonline form. The cognizant NSF SBIR/STTR Program Officer will use the Project Pitch to determine whether the proposed project is a good fit for the Fast-Track program.


• Companies qualifying as a small business concern are eligible to participate in the NSF SBIR/STTR Fast-Track pilot programs (seeGuide to SBIR/STTR Program Eligibilityfor more information). Please note that the size limit of 500 employees includes affiliates. The firm must be in compliance with theSBIR/STTR Policy Directiveand theCode of Federal Regulations. For STTR proposals, the proposing small business must also include a partner research institution in the project, see additional details below.


• The SBIR/STTR Fast-Track pilot effort shares the same goals as the NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I and Phase II funding opportunities, but the Fast-Track pilot programs have different eligibility requirements. Small businesses applying to the NSF SBIR/STTR Fast-Track pilot programs must have 1) a lineage of NSF research funding, 2) at least one Senior/Key Personnel to have undergone formal customer discovery training, and 3) the entire team must already be in place (not yet to be determined) at the time of proposal submission. If the small business concern does not meet all three of these criteria, their proposal will be transferred to the NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I program for consideration.
  
  
  
  • Lineage Eligibility Requirement.The technical innovation in the Fast-Track proposal must be derived from a prior NSF research award that is either currently active or was active within the previous five years from the date of submission of the Fast-Track proposal. The Fast-Track Project Pitch and proposal must include the NSF award number and title of the research award that is relied upon to meet the lineage requirement. The Fast-Track proposal’s PI or at least one Senior/Key Personnel must have been supported under the lineage award. If the Fast-Track team member relied upon to meet the lineage requirement is named on the lineage award, no further documentation will berequired. If not, the Fast-Track proposal must include a letter from the PI or a Co-PI of the lineage award confirming that either the PI or a named Senior/Key Personnel on the Fast-Track team was engaged in research undertaken under the lineage award.In addition to regular NSF research awards (e.g., CAREER, individual investigator awards, center/institute awards, etc.),Partnerships for Innovation (PFI)andNSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)awardsdocount as NSF lineage forSBIR/STTR Fast-Track eligibility.NSF Innovation Corps (I-Corps)andNSF SBIR/STTRawardsdo notcount as NSF research lineage and do not convey SBIR/STTR Fast-Track eligibility.
  
  
  • Formal Customer Discovery Eligibility Requirement.Companies must have received formal customer discovery training, defined as follows, within the