The federal government provides over $3.7 billion in annual funding for small businesses to conduct research and development of innovative technology leading to the commercialization of new products, processes and services. The Small Business Innovation Research and the Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) program helped develop large companies such as 23andMe, Biogen, iRobot and Qualcomm. In Maine, the program has supported startups such as VitaminSea, Montalvo, Eldertide and RockStep Solutions in becoming the successful businesses they are today.
As Maine’s official SBIR/STTR support organization, MTI has an experienced team dedicated to helping your small business leverage this federal program to innovate and grow your business.
What is the SBIR/STTR Program?
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program is the largest source of early-stage, high-risk technology financing in the United States. Eleven federal agencies participate in this program to provide over $3.7 billion for early stage research and development projects leading to commercialization of products, processes or services. The programs are designed to benefit entrepreneurs and small businesses — while increasing the competitiveness of the U.S. economy — by funding the development of innovative products and services.
Are you pursuing other federal R&D program funding? Contact us to see if MTI can help.
How Does MTI Help With SBIR/STTR Funding Applications?
MTI’s Technical Assistance Program (TAP) provides free, expert guidance to Maine small businesses seeking SBIR/STTR funding. Support includes strategy meetings, guidance with identifying the best SBIR/STTR solicitation for your business, proposal writing guidance, proposal review, and more.
Take Our Assessment to See if You’re Ready to Start Putting Together an SBIR/STTR Application
Our short assessment will walk you through the criteria for SBIR/STTR funding. After answering a few questions, you’ll know whether or not you’re a good fit for funding and can reach out to us for application support. If the assessment indicates that you’re not a good fit for the program right now, we’ll provide a list of next steps you can work on to improve your chances. Download a PDF of the assessment, or take our interactive version.
Open & Upcoming SBIR/STTR Solicitations
Each participating agency has a different schedule for releasing their solicitation. Some agencies issue multiple solicitations and others have just one per year. Visit the SBIR’s official website to see current and upcoming solicitations. You can also subscribe to our eNewsletter in the footer at the bottom of this page to receive updates and announcements on upcoming solicitations.
SBIR/STTR Workshops and Resources
MTI and our partners host and contribute to dozens of SBIR/STTR related workshops each year. These are great opportunities to learn from experts about this program and oftentimes interact with program managers at one of the eleven federal agencies participating in the SBIR/STTR program. For those unable to make it to these events, we have a collection of webinars, videos and e-books to help you learn more.
MTI is Helping More Maine Small Businesses Secure Federal Funding
Over 114 small businesses have won 397 awards
Maine’s small businesses have received over $115M since 1997
With MTI support, companies tend to have a higher success rate!
Businesses in all 16 Maine counties have received awards