Program Phases
- Phase I is for proof of concept. It pays $50,000 to $295,924 (and additional money depending on the agency and circumstances) for 6 to 12 months. Some agencies offer a training in entrepreneurship, called I-Corps, completed during Phase I. (See TABA and Other Commercialization Support.)
- Phase II is for research and development. It pays $500,000 to $1,972,828 (and additional money depending on the agency and circumstances) over two years. A commercialization plan for your business is required.
- Alternatives:
- A Fast Track combines Phase I and Phase II and requires more preliminary data.
- A Direct to Phase II skipping Phase I may be possible if you have already completed a proof of concept. Talk with a program officer to learn if your proposal seems ready for this type of application.
Later Program Phases
- SBIR Phase II B Bridge Award: Offered by NCI to help bridge the gap between Phase II and obtaining sufficient third-party investor funds. It pays up to $4 million over two to three years.
- Phase III: In this phase, you implement your commercialization plan using non-SBIR/STTR funding.
The NIH also has business development consultants, entrepreneurs-in-residence, and regulatory and reimbursement experts, as well as partnering and investing opportunities that assist awardees with commercialization.
Source: SBIR Development Center. NCI. Accessed August 2, 2021.
Did You Know?
- Some states offer Phase 0 grants to support inventors in writing Phase I proposals.
- Some states provide Phase I & II matching funds for your funded SBIR grants.
