NSF STTR Program
Status not published
Project Pitch rolling; full proposals in fixed windows, same calendar as NSF SBIR.
Same award ceilings as NSF SBIR; STTR requires a formal partnership with a US research institution performing 30-60% of the work.
U.S. National Science Foundation
public · national
Deadline: rolling — Project Pitch rolling; full proposals in fixed windows, same calendar as NSF SBIR.
This funder does not publish a success rate. We rank it using the rate observed across similar programmes and label it as an estimate rather than implying we know.
Quick — mostly identity and bank details.
Who can apply
- Up to 500 employees
- small enterprises
- Sectors: deeptech, ai, health
- Stage: idea, pre_seed
- R&D activity required
- Locally registered entity required
Requires a written agreement with a US research institution; the small business must perform at least 40% and the research institution at least 30% of the work.
How to apply
- Submit a Project Pitch
- If invited, submit the full STTR proposal via Research.gov with the research-institution subaward
Source. https://seedfund.nsf.gov/ — checked 2026-08-14 · not human-checked