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Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)

The SBIR program was designed to emphasize increased private sector commercialization of technology developed through federal SBIR research and development (R&D); to increase small business participation in federal R&D; and to foster and encourage participation of socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns and women-owned small business concerns in the SBIR program.

The SBIR program consists of the following three phases:

  • Phase I: to establish the technical merit and feasibility of proposed research or R&D efforts and to determine the quality of performance of the small business grantee organization. Phase I awards may not exceed $100,000 for a period normally not to exceed six months.

  • Phase II: to continue the research or R&D efforts initiated in Phase I. Funding is based on the results of Phase I and the scientific and technical merit and commercial potential of the Phase II application. Phase II awards may not exceed $750,000 for a period normally not to exceed two years.

  • Phase III: for small business concerns to pursue with non-federal funds the commercialization of the results of the research or R&D funded in Phases I and II.

The SBIR solicitations and the grant application package, both text and forms, are available on the NIH's Small Business Funding Opportunities page.

A limited number of hard copies of the Phase I Grant Solicitation are produced. Subject to availability, they may be obtained from:

PHS SBIR/STTR Solicitation Office
13685 Baltimore Avenue
Laurel, MD 20707-5096
Voice: (301) 206-9696
Fax: (301) 206-9722
E-mail: a2y@cu.nih.gov

Examples of areas in which small businesses may be able to contribute to the mission of the NIDCD include, but are certainly not limited to: hearing (e.g., new hearing aid and auditory implant technologies, research tools and models for studying the auditory system, viral vectors for gene transfer to the inner ear); balance (e.g., drug delivery systems, new assessment and rehabilitative technologies); voice, speech and language (e.g., new assessment and rehabilitative strategies, animal models); smell and taste (e.g., drug delivery systems, new diagnostic tools, improved techniques for research).

For further information on research topics, contact the NIDCD staff contact for SBIR.

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