September is the month we typically work with small businesses pursuing NIH, DOE, NSF, USDA/NIFA and EPA SBIR and/or STTR funding. This year is a little different. NSF is open and accepting proposals until November 5th, 2025, but we are still waiting for the new NIH SBIR omnibus and Department of Energy to publish their solicitations. There are currently no EPA SBIR solicitations open at this time. To stay up-to-date, signing up for federal agency newsletters is recommended. To do this, navigate to the agency websites and look for the “subscribe” button.
Have any additional questions or need some help? Reach out to us at sbir@vertuelab.org!
We're Hiring!
Our team at VertueLab is growing and we’re looking for two individuals to join our organization. We have positions open for an Oregon Program Partnership Manager and a Program Designer for our Equitable Climate Technology Program. If this is you or know of someone great who fits the role, encourage them to apply!
If you’ve ever been curious about attending an SBIR/STTR Innovation Conference but haven't been able to, our latest blog gives you an insight into the type of information you can expect to learn! This will give you a quick introduction to the SBIR process and federal agencies with a couple of photos of their booths. We’ve included a few helpful tips to get you started.
Business Oregon Reopens Application Support Program to Help Oregon Business Access Federal SBIR & STTR Grants
Application Deadline: October 17th, 2025 | 5:50 PM
Business Oregon and the Oregon Innovation Council (Oregon InC) are once again accepting requests for application support grants from Oregon companies pursuing funding from the federal SBIR & STTR programs. Two types of application support grants are available with a $5,000 maximum award amount.
Application Support Grants: For businesses preparing federal Phase I proposals and Phase II or Fast-Track proposals.
Up to $5,000 in:
Grant writing, technical review, or consulting
Legal/accounting services tied to the application
Market research or technical database access
Matching Grants: Provides state matching funds to Oregon companies that have already received a federal SBIR/STTR award.
For Phase I federal award recipients and Phase II or Fast-Track recipients.
Up to $50,000 for Phase I recipients
Up to $100,000 for Phase II or Fast-Track recipients
NSF funds almost all areas of technology and market sectors (with the exception of clinical trials). Their next SBIR Phase I application deadline is November 5th, 2025 provided you have an invitation to apply. To receive an invitation, submit a Project Pitch. Project pitches are accepted year-round and reviewed quickly. Some topics of interest include Advanced Manufacturing, Chemical Technologies, Cybersecurity and Authentication, Energy technologies, Space, and more. Awardees have the opportunity to win up to $305K for their Phase I applications.
Also, REGISTER for the NSF SBIR/STTR Virtual Office Hours if you are interested in learning more about its SBIR/STTR program and the proposal submission process. On multiple dates in September, NSF will host sessions on preparing an NSF SBIR/STTR Phase I proposal. These events are free and provide a valuable opportunity to engage directly with NSF program experts.
With multiple topics in pre-release, and new topics being released every first Wednesday of the month, DoD provides ample opportunities to explore alternative applications of your dual use technology.
Some example topics include:
Li ion 6T Batteries
Integrated Deployable Microsensors for Chemical Detection
OPEN TOPIC - Expeditionary Biologics-on-Demand (BOND)
Registration for the Fall Innovation Conference has opened. This November the conference comes to National Harbor, MD - just minutes from Washington, D.C. - bringing innovators, investors, and federal agencies together under one roof.
Benefits for attending:
Meet the decision-makers - connect face-to-face with SBIR/STTR program managers and agency leads.
Sharpen your proposals - gain insider tips to make your funding applications stand out.
Discover federal R&D resources - learn where and how to access the tools you need to scale.
Get inspired - hear commercialization success stories and proven strategies from funded innovators.
Early bird ticket sale has ended but tickets are still available at regular price.
During this webinar, you will learn about Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding from Kate Hoy, ARC WA Program Director. She will walk through what SBIR funding is, if it's a good fit for your company, and how to get started with the application process.
Join Life Science Washington Institute for a deep dive into SBIR/STTR funding for life science companies. Applying for grants can be an overwhelming process particularly in this unpredictable climate. LSWI will give you the current status of the grant world as they know it.
For additional support for SBIR or STTR funding, check out:
A review of federal funding awards shows that a number of SBIR and STTR projects are being funded. The SBIR/awards website provides a bounty of award information especially for DoD and NASA albeit not always quite up to date. For more up to date awards information, and those who love sleuthing for data, you can also check out the agency award websites. - NSF(Filter on Directorate TIP) - NIH(Filter on R43 and R44) - USDA (Filter on Small Business Innovation) - DOE
Make sure your registrations are in order and you are eligible to apply for SBIR or STTR funding!Click this link for the fine print.
SAM.gov is required for all SBIR or STTR applications. Start early! Your regional Oregon APEX Accelerator procurement advisor can help with SAM registration and all things related to government contracting. Find yours here.
VertueLab's SBIR/STTR Assistance Program is funded in part by:
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