Federal Funding Application Support
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.
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.
SBIR Innovator Spotlight
Mix medicinal plants with scientific research
Success is where inspiration, preparation and opportunity meet. –Edie Johnston, Founder & Owner of Eldertide, LLC Optimizing human health by integrating herbal traditions with scientific research. From the moment scientist Edie Johnston had the vision to use native elderberries for medicinal purposes, she knew she had to further explore the idea. Her initial…
Read more »
Enabling information access for everyone
“The majority of accessibility challenges faced by blind folks are due to information loss, not vision loss” says Giudice, who is himself congenitally blind, “what we are developing at UNAR will go a long way to solving these challenges.” Changing the lives of visually-impaired people by enabling digital information access Everyone should have…
Read more »
Peregrine Turbine Technologies, LLC
Making green energy a reality
Maine Technology Institute is the sole entity in the state of Maine whose purpose is to promote and advance the objectives of technology companies like Peregrine. MTI is a much needed and vital organization for the future health of technology companies in the state. –David Stapp, CEO and CTO, Peregrine Turbine…
Read more »
