NIH Small Business Program Funding Opportunities Now Available – Applicant Support Webinar on June 9

NIH’s Seed Fund is back, with new Small Business program funding available and several upcoming opportunities to help applicants develop strong applications. We also encourage you join us for a live event on June 9 to hear from NIH experts and become familiar with the new opportunities and more.

New Funding Opportunities  

Following the recent reauthorization of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, NIH has published Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) for eligible U.S. small businesses ready to advance innovative biomedical technologies toward public health impact. Applicants, now is the time to carefully review the NOFOs and get organized for the receipt date on Tuesday, September 8, 2026! 

The newly posted NOFOs include the:

• Parent Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
• Parent Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)
• SBIR Phase IIB Strategic Breakthrough Award
• SBIR/STTR Commercialization Readiness Pilot Program 

These small business funding opportunities are the largest source of early-stage capital for the life sciences in the U.S., providing over $1.4 billion each year to support small business research and development while allowing companies to retain full ownership of their inventions and their company.

Notable Changes for NIH Small Business Funding Opportunities: Foreign Risk Assessment, Application Limit, and Technical and Business Assistance Funding  

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced policy changes to foreign disclosure and risk management, including clarifying which types of foreign relationships and security risks prevent an award from being funded. If a security risk is found, HHS will now inform the small business which risk category necessitated the denial. See NOT-OD-26-074 for details, including updated FAQs and case studies. 

HHS has also implemented a new policy limiting each small business to nine SBIR/STTR applications in a fiscal year (NOT-OD-26-073). Limiting the number of applications will allow NIH to select the best projects while providing peer reviewer feedback to as many small businesses as possible, especially when considering the rising numbers of applications submitted. 

SBIR/STTR companies can also request technical and business assistance (TABA) funding to identify and address their most pressing product development and commercialization needs. New policy changes allow TABA funds to be used to strengthen cybersecurity and screen for foreign risk. In addition to hiring vendors, small businesses can also now use TABA to hire or pay employees for eligible expenses. See NOT-OD-26-075 for details.

Familiarize Yourself with Existing Resources 

In addition to reviewing the NOFOs, applicants should take advantage of NIH’s upcoming webinars and online resources and engage with program staff to better understand program requirements and NIH priorities. 

You are encouraged to revisit NIH’s small business website to learn about:

• Guidance on SBIR vs. STTR
• Eligibility basics
• Preparing an application, along with sample applications to view
• Review criteria
• NIH Institute and Center funding considerations

These resources help companies understand which funding path may fit their project, how to structure a responsive application, and when to contact program staff. 

Start Registering Your Company Now 

Companies new to NIH funding must complete required SAM, eRA Commons, Grants.gov, and SBA registrations before applying. The registration process can take 6 weeks or longer, so starting early remains one of the best ways to avoid submission problems. 

Join Our New Webinar Series to Stay Informed 

We are also launching NIH Small Business 101, a new webinar series to help applicants prepare for this next chapter of the program. Register now for this webinar series. 

On June 9 at 1:30 p.m. ET, we start with a comprehensive overview of the Small Business Program. Attendees will learn how to navigate new opportunities and policy changes, followed by live Q&A with NIH Small Business experts. 

Subsequent sessions on July 21 and August 18 will focus on the topics applicants most frequently ask about: budget issues (caps, indirect costs, profit allowance fee, Technical and Business Assistance Funding, etc.) and NIH’s foreign risk assessment process. 

After a brief presentation, applicants can raise questions with NIH experts to help them understand how to submit the strongest application. Our first piece of advice to applicants is to always talk to Institute and Center scientific program officers as you prepare your application! Our online calendar includes all open Small Business events, including opportunities to speak one-on-one with program staff. Resources abound on our website – sample applications, links to register your company, and more. Start there and then join us live on June 9!  

NIH looks forward to receiving strong applications from small businesses developing bold, high-impact technologies with the potential to improve health and save lives.