What is SBIR/STTR?

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program is a competitive program that provides research and development funding to qualified small businesses in order to stimulate innovation and development in high technology areas. Awards are based on small business qualifications, degree of innovation, technical merit and future market potential. Each year 11 federal agencies are required to set aside a portion of their R&D budget for SBIR/STTR funding, releasing over $2 billion in available grant funds for small business research and development.

*supports both SBIR and STTR programs

SBIR/STTR is a three phase program:

• Phase I is the start-up phase. Grants of up to 100,000 are awarded for approximately 6 months to conduct technical merit or feasibility studies on an idea or technology.
• Phase II awards expand upon the results obtained in Phase I. Grants of up to $750,000 for up to 2 years are awarded to perform the R&D to evaluate commercialization potential. Only Phase I award winners are considered or Phase II grants.
• Phase II is the commercialization phase. This is the period where the Phase II innovation moves from the laboratory into the marketplace. No SBIR/STTR funds support this phase. The small business must identify funding in the private sector or other non-SBIR/STTR federal agency funding.

For more information on SBIR/STTR and the Small Business Administration, please visit any of the above federal agency sites and www.sba.gov/SBIR.

TTDC SBIR/STTR Phase 0 Grant Program

The TTDC Phase 0 Grant Program is designed to assist Tennessee small businesses in the application process for Phase I technology development funding through the federal SBIR/STTR Program. Funding awarded via the TTDC Phase 0 Grant Program will reimburse a portion of eligible costs associated with the preparation and submission of a Phase I proposal. The goal of the program is to increase the quality and competitiveness of Tennessee proposals, ultimately resulting in a higher number of SBIR/STTR Phase I awards in Tennessee.

If you are planning on submitting a Phase I SBIR/STTR proposal to the federal program and are interested in learning more about the TTDC Phase 0 Grant Program, your first step is to read the TTDC SBIR/STTR Phase 0 Grant Program Solicitation. Once you have reviewed the solicitation guidelines and have verified that you are eligible for the program, you may submit the Phase 0 Application, along with the required supporting documents outlined in the Solicitation. The Phase 0 Reimbursement Form will be submitted at a later date, once the initial application has been submitted and approved.

For more information on the Phase 0 Grant Program, please contact Kate Borkon at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or (615) 673-4419.

Tennessee SBIR Proposal Assistance Network

TTDC has partnered with the TN SBIR Proposal Assistance Network to further aid small businesses in the SBIR/STTR application process. The University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services and its partner stakeholders offer a statewide SBIR/STTR assistance network in collaboration with other public and private assistance providers across the state. If your company needs help with identifying the federal SBIR/STTR grant that’s right for you, applying for a federal grant, or just simply understanding the SBIR process, please give them a call.

You do not need to apply for for a Phase 0 Grant in order to contact the Assistance Network and receive support. Please feel free to contact them at any time during your federal application process (Phase I or Phase II) or to determine if the SBIR/STTR program is the right fit for you.

Additional services provided by the TN SBIR Proposal Assistance Network include helping your small business to:

• understand the SBIR proposal criteria and process;
• prepare and review proposals;
• analyze proposal responses;
• supply partnership and mentor opportunities; and
• continue product development efforts to commercialize technologies.