Small Business Innovation Research/Technology Transfer Program
Through NIH’s SBIR/STTR program, NIMHD is proud to allocate grant funding for small businesses working with communities that experience health and/or health care disparities on commercial efforts designed to empower health disparity communities through health education, disease prevention, and community-based, problem-driven research, while creating jobs in their community:
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)
The NIH SBIR/STTR program is one of the largest early-stage life sciences investment programs open to a wide variety of applicants. NIMHD encourages entrepreneurs from all backgrounds with product ideas and concepts whose potential commercialization supports the NIH research mission to apply. Learn more: SBIR/STTR goals
Funding Opportunities
SBIR/STTR awards supported by NIMHD:
- PA-24-245: PHS 2024-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH, CDC and FDA for Small Business Innovation Research Grant Applications (Parent SBIR [R43/R44] Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- PA-24-246: PHS 2024-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH and CDC for Small Business Innovation Research Grant Applications (Parent SBIR [R43/R44] Clinical Trial Required)
- PA-24-247: PHS 2024-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH for Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Applications (Parent STTR [R41/R42] Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- PA-24-248: PHS 2024-2 Omnibus Solicitation of the NIH for Small Business Technology Transfer Grant Applications (Parent STTR [R41/R42] Clinical Trial Required)
Eligibility and Key Requirements
Only small businesses located and operating in the United States may apply for SBIR/STTR funding. A small business may not have more than 500 employees, including its affiliates. Details: SEED Small Business Program Basics
The NIMHD SBIR/STTR Program gives high priority to applications that target the:
- NIH Minority Health and Health Disparities Strategic Plan
- NIMHD Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Framework, which is an evolving conceptualization of factors relevant to research that addresses the complex, multi-faceted nature of minority health and health disparities.
SBIR/STTR Goals
- Encourage economic development by supporting small businesses that stimulate technological and service innovations to address challenges faced by NIH populations experiencing health disparities.
- Strengthen the role and involvement of small business in meeting federal research and development needs and implementing research that addresses challenges faced by health disparities populations.
- Invest in early-stage private sector concepts that foster innovations and create jobs through commercializing and implementing federal research and development.
- Foster and encourage participation by socially and economically disadvantaged and woman-owned businesses in the SBIR/STTR program.
Budget & Timelines
The budget guidelines are the same for both programs, and individual NIH Institutes and Centers set their own budget limits. For NIMHD applications:
Phase I
Phase II
Go to Small Business Program Phases details
We recognize that some biomedical innovations require additional funding to reach the marketplace. For those topics, the NIH has a waiver from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to allow larger awards.
Applicants for NIMHD SBIR/STTR funds are strongly encouraged to contact a program official prior to submitting any application in excess of the total award amounts listed above and early in the application planning process.
Page updated Mar. 19, 2025
