SBIR/STTR Support Services from the Tulane Innovation Institute
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs are the largest source of non-dilutive early-stage research and development funding for technology commercialization. These competitive federal grant programs are offered by a wide array of federal agency partners (National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, NASA, and others). These grants, which can range in size from ~$300,000 to over $1,000,000, help startups transform innovative research into products and services that address important national needs.
Tulane Innovation Institute Support for Submission
The Innovation Institute is proud to partner with Intelispark, a leader in SBIR and STTR consulting services. The Institute and Intelispark will offer 90-minute SBIR/STTR informational webinars once per semester, with the next webinar scheduled for September 23 at 12 pm via Zoom.
Additionally, qualified Tulane spinouts are eligible for Institute financial support in contracting with Intelispark for grant submission. To qualify, companies must have completed customer discovery through I-Corps or a similarly rigorous program to the satisfaction of Institute staff and hold in good standing a Go Green technology option or license. Please contact Scott Clark or Clay Christian at the Institute for more information and further assistance.
SBIR and STTR funding provides a pathway to move promising discoveries beyond the laboratory while supporting company formation, technology development, and commercialization.
SBIR supports research conducted primarily by a small business. Collaboration with a university is encouraged but optional.
STTR requires a formal collaboration between a small business and a nonprofit research institution like Tulane.
Who Can Apply? The applicant must be a US-based small business organized as a for-profit US small business, as defined by the Small Business Administration (SBA), conducting research and development within the United States, and meeting applicable ownership and control requirements established by the SBA.
Common Due Dates
NIH | Annually on September 5, January 5, and April 5
NSF | November 4, 2026; March 4, 2027; July 7, 2027. Please see the current solicitation for more details.
