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

The National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, administers the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Fast-Track pilot programs. These programs, also known as America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF, are intended to accelerate the commercialization of innovative technologies by small businesses. The Fast-Track pilot differs from traditional SBIR/STTR awards by combining Phase I and Phase II into a single proposal process, enabling faster progression from concept to market. The program is aimed at small businesses that already have a lineage of NSF research funding, have undergone formal customer discovery training, and have a complete project team at the time of submission. The Fast-Track program offers fixed-amount cooperative agreements for use-inspired research and development. Each award includes up to $400,000 for the Phase I component and up to $1,155,000 for the Phase II component, totaling a maximum of $1,555,000. The expected duration of funded projects ranges from 24 to 36 months. Projects must demonstrate substantial technical innovation, high technical risk, and the potential for significant societal or commercial impact. The emphasis is on developing a proof-of-concept or prototype by mitigating technical risk and progressing toward commercial readiness. To be eligible, small businesses must meet several criteria. First, the proposed innovation must stem from a prior NSF research award active within the past five years. Second, at least one Senior/Key Personnel must have completed formal customer discovery training, such as participation in NSF I-Corps or equivalent programs. Third, the applicant team must be fully assembled with no "to-be-determined" personnel. All research and development must be conducted in the United States, and companies must be majority U.S.-owned. Proposals involving Schedule I controlled substances or clinical trials are not eligible. Additional restrictions apply under the CHIPS and Science Act regarding entities and individuals affiliated with foreign talent recruitment programs. Application submissions are only accepted through Research.gov and require a Project Pitch invitation from a cognizant NSF Program Officer. Applicants must first submit a Fast-Track Project Pitch for review. If invited, the full proposal must be submitted within four months of the invitation date. Key proposal components include detailed budgets for both Phase I and Phase II, technical and commercial development plans, a project schedule, letters of support, and various NSF-standard forms such as biographical sketches and current and pending support documents, prepared using SciENcv. Intellectual Property Rights agreements are mandatory for STTR proposals and strongly recommended for SBIR proposals involving subawards. The proposal review process uses three main criteria: Intellectual Merit, Broader Impacts, and Commercialization Potential. Proposals must demonstrate technical feasibility and a compelling case for how the innovation addresses unmet market needs. The review process includes a Phase II transition review with two stage gates: a progress evaluation and a financial capability review conducted by the NSF Cost Analysis and Pre-Award Branch. Only companies that pass both gates will receive Phase II funding. The solicitation has multiple deadlines: September 18, 2024; November 6, 2024; March 5, 2025; July 2, 2025; and November 5, 2025. The program anticipates issuing up to 36 awards, split between SBIR and STTR proposals, with a total budget of approximately $56 million. Contact information for inquiries is available via the NSF SBIR/STTR inbox at sbir@nsf.gov or by phone at 703-292-5111. Applicants are encouraged to start the required registrations early, including those for SAM.gov, SBA Company Registry, and Research.gov.

Submit early via Research.gov; use SciENcv templates; emphasize product-market fit and innovation from prior NSF research