Three Program Phases:
- Phase I is for proof of concept. It pays $50,000 to $225,000, and for some agencies and circumstances, up to $400,000 for 6 to 12 months.
- Phase II is for research and development. It pays 500,000 to 1.5 million, and for some agencies and circumstances, up to $2 M over 2 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 a possibility if you have already completed a proof of concept. Talk with a program officer to see if they think 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 3rd party investor funds. It pays up to 4M over 2 to 3 years.
- Phase III: In this phase, you implement your Commercialization Plan using non-SBIR/STTR funding.
NIH also offers 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 8/2/2021.
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.
