To apply for a small business grant, follow the application process as outlined below to determine eligibility, register your small business, identify funding opportunities, apply, and follow up on your application. Visit NIH’s Small Business Funding How to Apply webpage for a process overview and Frequently Asked Questions for Small Business for additional guidance.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) applicants who request NIAID support for clinical trials through the NIAID SBIR Phase II Clinical Trial Implementation Cooperative Agreement (U44 Clinical Trial Required) notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) must use the application process described at Investigator-Initiated Clinical Trials.
Determine Eligibility
Before submitting an application, determine whether your small business concern qualifies for NIAID’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Refer to NIH’s Small Business Eligibility Criteria for more information.
Complete Registrations
Small businesses must complete several required registrations before submitting an application to NIH; a process which can take 6 to 8 weeks.
Find registration guidance here:
- Complete the required registrations as described on the NIH SEED Required Company Registrations page, and ensure your business has a valid Employer Identification Number.
- Additional resources to assist with registration may be found on the NIH Grants & Funding page for Organization Registrations and the Preparing to Apply podcasts on the All About Grants Podcasts page.
Choose a Topic and Funding Opportunity
Before selecting a funding opportunity:
- Review the Funding Mechanisms section for an outline of the differences between grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements in the SBIR/STTR programs.
- Explore High-Priority Areas of Interest for the NIAID Small Business Program to determine if your topic is prioritized for program acceptance and to find assistance with your application from a subject matter expert.
- For NIAID-specific information on funding support and research topics, refer to the NIAID section of the current Program Descriptions and Research Topics document and the SBIR and STTR Omnibus Grant Solicitations for the NIH, CDC, and FDA.
- Review NIAID topics identified in recent SBIR Contract solicitations. These topics generally align with specific NIAID Research Program priorities and may also be welcome as investigator-initiated proposals through the Omnibus Solicitations.
- Consult with a member of the NIAID Small Business Program Team for feedback regarding the scope and commercialization objectives for your proposed project, and to connect with scientific program staff.
- Browse the NIH RePORTER research portfolio database and use the Matchmaker tool to find information on current projects approved for NIH funding, awarded project amounts, and competitors. Learn more at Find Funded Projects and More Using NIH Databases.
After carrying out the steps above, select a funding opportunity. Refer to the NIH SBIR/STTR Funding page for opportunity overview information and find a complete list of NIAID participating NOFOs at Funding Opportunities.
Apply
After identifying an opportunity, find guidance on writing a strong application at NIAID’s Apply for a Grant and NIH’s Prepare Your Application.
For examples of successful applications, refer to R41, R42, R43, and R44 Small Business - Sample Applications.
Be sure to read the full NOFO for detailed instructions before beginning your application. Download the SBIR/STTR Application Instructions to use as a reference during the grant application process.
Applications exceeding NIAID budget caps may be withdrawn from funding consideration. For information on budget caps, check the Budget: Hard Caps, Small Business Administration (SBA) Waiver, and NIAID Budget Request Limitations section of the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Grants SOP.
Special Instructions for SBIR/STTR Applications
Pay close attention to SBIR/STTR Application Instruction items marked “Additional Instructions for SBIR/STTR:” to ensure you submit a responsive application. Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) Program applicants should note that Section IV of the CRP NOFO contains extensive changes/additions to the standard instructions.
Your organization must submit SBIR and STTR grant applications electronically. Use NIH’s Application Submission System and Interface for Submission Tracking (ASSIST) or one of the other NIH Submission Options. Refer to NIH's How to Submit, Track, and View Your Application for more information.
Small Business Sample Applications
The sample SBIR (R43/R44) and STTR (R41/R42) grant applications and summary statements can be used as references when preparing a submission. Other resources found on this page include example forms, data sharing and model organism sharing plans, biographical sketches, and more.
After You Apply
Learn more about the next steps for your application along with your next actions in After You Submit an Application. This resource covers the Review Process, Scoring & Summary Statements, and contacting your program officer for advice. Refer to Responding to Pre-Award Requests ("Just-in-Time") to learn more about NIAID pre-award information requests.
After that, Manage Your Award covers reporting requirements and much more.
If a legal action occurs—such as a merger, acquisition, or successor-in-interest—that changes your organization status so that it is no longer eligible for the SBIR/STTR programs, existing SBIR/STTR awards cannot be awarded additional funds. Your organization would also no longer be eligible for any new SBIR/STTR grants.
Contact the NIH awarding office in advance of legal actions that may affect organizational eligibility. For more information, refer to the NIH Grants Policy Statement, Section 8.1.2.8 Change in Recipient Organizational Status. NIH will negotiate bi-lateral terminations with recipients that are ineligible to continue to receive SBIR/STTR funding.
Applicant Resources Beyond NIAID
- The NIH SBIR/STTR program provides Product Development Support for small businesses as well as basic information about the SBIR application and review process. Refer to How to Apply.
- I-CorpsTM at NIH seeks to accelerate the development and commercialization of new products and services resulting from projects supported by currently funded NIH/CDC Phase I SBIR and STTR awards. The Program is designed to provide leaders of SBIR-funded companies with real-world, hands-on entrepreneurship training, facilitated by domain experts from the biotech sector.
- SBIR/STTR Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) Program facilitates the transition of previously funded SBIR and STTR Phase II projects to the commercialization stage by providing additional support for technical assistance and later-stage research and development not typically supported through Phase II or Phase IIB grants or contracts.
- NIH Product Development Support such as Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) Programs help small businesses identify and address their product development needs. We encourage first-time applicants to review these resources, which include a TABA Needs Assessment, before submitting an application.
Check the main NIAID Small Business Programs page for funding opportunities, high-priority areas of research interest, success stories, and more.