TL; DR SBIR is reauthorized through 2031. Authority lapsed September 30, 2025, and the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act restored it in spring 2026. AFWERX and SpaceWERX reopened solicitations in April. The traditional Open Topic is gone for 2026....
Partnering with a prime contractor, such as Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, or Raytheon, can increase a small business's odds of winning SBIR and OTA funding. The partnership can validate your company to government evaluators, connect you to the actual DoW end-user, and...
A few days ago NIH, CDC, and FDA reissued the full slate of parent announcements that carry small companies from feasibility all the way through commercialization. Solicitations are available now! The next submission date is September 5, 2026 but you can submit...
The SBIR and STTR programs are officially on their way back after a five-month hiatus! This is an exciting time but now is not a time for defense startups to celebrate, it is a time to prepare for the colossal opportunity ahead.What Happened and the Makings of the...
Program Overview The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) exists to move high-impact biomedical research forward in areas that matter to Service Members, their families, Veterans, and the broader public, often where traditional funding pathways...
Understanding SBIR/STTR paylines is essential for assessing your funding chances. This guide breaks down current paylines by NIH Institute—including key insights on the NHLBI payline—to help small businesses navigate impact scores, funding thresholds, and strategic opportunities.
Negotiations are moving from talking points to real legislative text. The biggest issue is the cap per year per company. There is meaningful convergence on Phase III transition and modernization and a new “strategic
breakthrough” pathway would enable Phase II awards up to $30M with 100% matching funds and faster award timelines, for certain agency, company, and product combinations.
A major independent review of the Department of Defense SBIR and STTR programs lands on a clear conclusion: these programs work, they create real defense capability, and they strengthen the innovation ecosystem. The report’s most important recommendation is to make them permanent, because their impact is proven and strategic.
Grant Engine, the leader in non-dilutive funding for life science companies through NIH, BARDA, DoD, NSF, and ARPA-H programs, has acquired Akela Consulting, a premier grant writing firm focused on dual-use technology companies seeking funding from DoD, AFWERX, XTech, NASA, and Department of Transportation initiatives.
At Grant Engine, data security is not an afterthought—it’s a foundational commitment. As a partner to some of the most innovative companies in life sciences, deep tech, and defense, we understand that trust and confidentiality are not optional. Our platform is designed to uphold and exceed industry standards, drawing on battle-tested tools whose security models are transparent, robust, and independently validated.