1. $4 Million from NIST SBIR
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) offers small businesses a unique opportunity to access funding through its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Designed to support cutting-edge research and development, the NIST SBIR program aims to foster U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness in key areas such as advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, quantum information science, and IoT.
The SBIR program provides two phases of funding:
- Phase I: Small businesses can receive up to $150,000 for a 6-12 month project to explore the feasibility and technical merit of their idea.
- Phase II: Successful Phase I projects may be eligible for up to $400,000 in funding over a 24-month period for continued R&D and prototype development.
- The Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) NIST SBIR solicitation is anticipated to open in January 2025, with proposal submission deadlines likely occurring around March or April 2025
Eligible companies must be U.S.-based, independently owned, and operated for-profit entities. If your business is ready to innovate and bring new technologies to market, the NIST SBIR program could be the perfect opportunity to accelerate your growth!
2. Up to $1.8 Million with AFWERX
The AFWERX Direct to Phase II (D2P2) program is an innovative funding initiative designed to accelerate the development of high-impact solutions for the U.S. Air Force.
D2P2 provides an opportunity for small businesses and non-traditional contractors to receive funding for technology prototypes and solutions that align with Air Force needs, bypassing the Phase I feasibility study. The program encourages companies with proven concepts to scale quickly, with a focus on dual-use technologies that have both commercial and defense applications.
Through this fast-tracked process, D2P2 enables quicker deployment of cutting-edge technologies, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation within the defense ecosystem.
The next submission deadline is March 6, 2025 where the D2P2 award offers up to $1.8 million in funding over a 27-month period, allowing companies to develop, test, and refine solutions that address critical U.S. Air Force needs.
Read more here.
Featured Winner
PQSecure Technologies, LLC awarded
$2 million from NSF SBIR
PQSecure Technologies, LLC, based in Boca Raton, Florida, is at the forefront of developing advanced cryptographic solutions designed to safeguard data against the emerging threats posed by quantum computing. In 2024, the company was awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to further its research in post-quantum cryptography. This funding supports PQSecure’s mission to create robust security protocols that ensure the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive information in a future where quantum computers could potentially break current encryption standards. By pioneering these next-generation cryptographic technologies, PQSecure is playing a critical role in preparing industries and governments for the quantum era, ensuring that data remains protected against evolving cyber threats.
Read more here →