The Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs supports early-career researchers transitioning into entrepreneurial roles to lead biomedical innovation in alignment with the mission of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Funded under the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program, this opportunity seeks to empower scientists with technical expertise but limited business experience by providing funding for both research and entrepreneurial development. This program is administered by multiple NIH institutes including the National Eye Institute (NEI), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), and others, and specifically supports R41/R42 Phase I and Fast-Track grants that include a clinical trial component.
This initiative aims to address a critical gap in translating academic research into commercially viable healthcare solutions by providing resources for research and mentorship. Projects funded through this opportunity must propose the development of biomedical technologies with commercial potential, including those in genomics, aging, substance use disorder, and health informatics. In addition to supporting technical R&D, the grant mandates robust entrepreneurial training for the PD/PI, including coursework, workshops, or programs such as NIH I-Corps or Concept to Clinic (C3i), and mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs.
Eligible applicants are limited to U.S.-based small business concerns (SBCs) that meet federal ownership and operational criteria. Each SBC must identify at least one mentor for the PD/PI and provide a detailed career development plan. Only individuals who are new to entrepreneurial leadership and have not led significant research grants may serve as contact PD/PIs. Fast-Track applicants must include well-defined product development milestones, go/no-go criteria, and an integrated commercialization and development strategy.
Applications must be submitted electronically through NIH’s ASSIST system, Grants.gov Workspace, or an institutional system-to-system platform. A letter of intent is encouraged 30 days before the application deadline. Standard NIH due dates apply, recurring three times a year (January 5, April 5, September 5) through April 2027. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis depending on the submission cycle, with award decisions expected within three to six months from submission.
The maximum award amount for Phase I is $306,872 and $2,045,816 for Phase II, with project durations of up to one year and two years respectively. Applicants should verify whether their selected NIH Institute imposes additional budgetary or duration constraints. Applications must include clear quantitative milestones for both research progress and entrepreneurial development. Mentors are expected to commit a minimum of 5% effort and are eligible for salary support. A pre-application technical assistance webinar is available for guidance, and applicants are strongly encouraged to engage NIH program officers prior to submission.
