The STTR Program
STTR Overview
The Small Business Technology Transfer Program provides federal grants to encourage partnerships between businesses with ideas for new technologies and products and the nonprofit research-and-development institutions that can bring those products to market.
Each year, five federal departments and agencies are required by STTR to reserve a portion of their research and development funds for award to small business/nonprofit research institution partnerships.
The Department of Defense offers project funding through its military branches and several of its agencies, including:
The other federal departments that provide research and development funds through STTR include the:
These agencies designate research-and-development topics and accept proposals.
Eligibility
Both small businesses and nonprofit research institutions must meet certain requirements. Small businesses must:
- Be American-owned and independently operated.
- Be for-profit
- Have 500 employees or fewer
The principal researcher on the project need not be employed by small business
Nonprofit research institutions must be located in the United States and must also be one of the following:
- A nonprofit college or university.
- A domestic nonprofit research organization.
- A federally funded research-and-development center (FFRDC).
Unlike the restrictions placed on participating businesses, there are no limits on the numbers of employees a nonprofit research institution may have.
Following submission of proposals, agencies make STTR awards based on small business/nonprofit research institution qualification, degree of innovation, and future market potential