OPPORTUNITIES
[Omnibus Solicitations] [Specific Opportunities]
SBIR and STTR grant funding opportunities offer small business entrepreneurs a chance to obtain non-dilutive funding for early-stage research and development. Applications are accepted three times a year.
NIH advertises the availability of grant support through notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs), previously referred to as funding opportunity announcements (FOAs).
More information on HHS SBIR contracts is available on the NIH SBIR contracts webpage.
Helpful Tips
- Follow these step-by-step instructions to learn how to apply for these funding opportunities, including resources on how to prepare your application.
- Read Program Descriptions and Research Topics.
- Refer to SBA-approved waiver eligible topics.
- Watch this NIH SBIR/STTR webinar from June 2025.
Omnibus Solicitations (Parent Announcements)
Researcher-initiated ideas are proposed via the SBIR and STTR Omnibus grant solicitations. These funding opportunities do not specify a topic, though they link to identified topics of interest for each participating awarding component. Most small business applications to NIH are submitted to the Omnibus solicitations.
Read the Program Descriptions and Research Topics to understand the awarding components, their topics of interest, and staff contacts. For topics that require additional funding to reach the marketplace, please refer to our list of SBA-approved waiver-eligible topics.
Standard Application Due Dates are September 5, January 5, and April 5. Due dates that fall on weekends or Federal holidays are moved to the next business day.
Specific Funding Opportunities
Some SBIR/STTR grant solicitations are focused on specific research areas. Some specific NOFOs, identified as RFAs (Requests for Applications) or PASs (Program Announcements with Set-aside funds), have funding set-aside in the Institute/Center's budget for that targeted program.
