The Small Business Innovative Research Program (SBIR)
The SBIR program awards funding competitively to small businesses engaged in innovative solutions that address the technological needs of federal government agencies. Funding comes in three phases:
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Phase I, the feasibility assessment stage, covers a maximum six-month period in amounts up to $100,000, though time and dollar amounts vary among agencies.
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Phase II, which is contingent on a successful Phase I outcome, provides funds for full research and development expanding on the first stage results; this second stage can last two years and receive as much as $750,000 or more, depending on the agency.
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Phase III calls for the commercialization of research results of the first two phases and must be funded from sources other than the SBIR program.
