The Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act, which became law earlier this month, reauthorized the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.
The SBIR and STTR programs award research and development grants to American small businesses for defense innovations. Following reauthorization, the U.S. Department of Defense redesigned the programs to focus on differentiated technology, scalable products and operational capability innovation. Small businesses and academia will be awarded grants for innovative technologies that grow the defense industrial base through commercialization.
The Office for Small Business Innovation launched the Accelerated Research for Transition Program to offer multiple pathways for the department to capitalize on SBIR/STTR innovation through additional capital investment that focuses on transitioning warfighter capabilities from development to production, operation and sustainment.
“The reauthorization of SBIR and STTR will allow the War Department to quickly align its innovation investments directly with our most urgent warfighting needs,” Emil Michael, under secretary of defense for research and engineering, said. “We are supercharging American small businesses to become a critical part of our national defense. They will ensure our warfighters maintain a decisive battlefield advantage for years to come.”
The department has issued more than 90 SBIR/STTR solicitations seeking innovative capabilities.