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Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) & Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs

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Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) & Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs

Many agencies of the federal government operate grant programs for small businesses to conduct research & development (R&D). These programs are known as the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs and are designed to stimulate technological innovation and provide support for small businesses to commercialize their technology. The federal programs help small businesses explore their technological potential and get their products closer to market. The programs are known as "America's largest seed fund." The State through Business Oregon offers a support program that complements the federal program to help Oregon companies that are pursuing or have received these federal grants.

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Federal grants are available in two phases: Phase I and Phase II.
  • Phase I: These grants help very early-stage companies do proof of concept/feasibility studies on new technologies and are approximately $150,000.
  • Phase II: These grants build on Phase I work to help companies develop commercially ready prototypes to test with customers and can be $1.5M to $3M.
Business Oregon encourages small businesses in the state to access this non-dilutive but very competitive funding and seeks to provide businesses with advantages in accessing it. To achieve that goal, the agency has two types of grants to assist companies: Matching Grants and Application Support Grants.

Application Support Grants

Because the SBIR/STTR programs are very competitive, Business Oregon provides application support grants to help businesses prepare better applications to give companies a better chance to receive federal funding. These grants are called Phase 0 and 00 grants. Business Oregon has provided approximately $400,000 of these grants to companies that have then secured almost $13M in federal grant awards. Please see the SBIR Application Support Guidelines​ document for more information. 

  • Phase 0: These grants go to businesses that are pursuing federal Phase I SBIR/STTR grant funds.
  • Phase 00: These grants help businesses pursuing federal Phase II or Fast-Track grants. 
Phase 0 or 00 grants can be up to $5,000 and can be used for:
  • Professional fees to develop the SBIR/STTR application (e.g., technical consultants, writer, reviewer)
  • Other professional fees (e.g., legal, accounting) directly related to preparing the SBIR/STTR application
  • Other out-of-pocket costs directly related to preparing the SBIR/STTR application (e.g., market research, technical database research, or statistical analyses)

Matching Grants

Federal SBIR/STTR funding is a great source for early-stage companies, but it is not enough to help a company stand on its own. Business Oregon's matching grants provide funds to help fill gaps in what the federal grant will not cover and assist businesses build on projects and advance their technologies. Matching grants are awarded via a competitive process and are only offered periodically. ​

SBIR/STTR Matching Grant Request for Applications ended October 30 at 11:59pm. Applications are currently under review. 


SBIR Application Support Grants are now open (as of August 14, 2023) and are rolling through the end of the biennium (June 2024, as funds are available). Contact Sally Bell (sally.bell@biz.oregon.gov​) for further information regarding application support grants. Be sure to sign up for the Innovation & Entrepreneurship email list​ to receive news, updates, and future funding announcements.​