The federal Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs are once again open for business. In April 2026, the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act reauthorized SBIR/STTR through September 30, 2031, ending a six-month pause in new program authority and giving startups, researchers, and commercialization partners a clearer runway for federal non-dilutive funding. The reauthorization also brings a more modernized program structure, with stronger attention to commercialization outcomes, research security, foreign-risk review, and measurable public benefit.
For climate, energy, manufacturing, and deep-tech innovators, the near-term opportunity is significant—but likely to be uneven. Agencies are restarting solicitations on different timelines, and applicants should expect compressed windows, refreshed rules, and a greater emphasis on market readiness and transition planning.
At the U.S. Department of Energy, SBIR/STTR remains one of the most relevant federal pathways for early-stage energy innovation. DOE has stated that the new law extends SBIR/STTR through FY2031, and the department is also consolidating its SBIR/STTR implementation under the Office of Technology Commercialization to improve efficiency, partnerships, and commercialization. Companies working on grid technologies, storage, advanced manufacturing, critical materials, industrial decarbonization, and related climate solutions should watch DOE closely for new Phase I and Phase II opportunities.
At the National Science Foundation, America’s Seed Fund continues to support startups developing high-risk, high-impact technologies across a broad range of science and engineering fields. NSF’s model is less topic-specific than DOE’s: applicants begin with a required Project Pitch, which helps determine whether the innovation fits NSF’s objectives around technical risk, commercial potential, and societal impact.
Defense-related SBIR/STTR opportunities are also expected to move quickly. The Department of War’s SBIR/STTR portal notes that proposals must be submitted through DoW SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal (DSIP) and that firms should register early once they identify a relevant opportunity. Recent agency messaging emphasizes a sharper focus on warfighter needs, fielded capabilities, and scale.
This is where Empower Innovation can help. The platform connects innovators, funders, customers, accelerators, national labs, and technical partners across the clean energy ecosystem. As SBIR/STTR solicitations reopen, Empower Innovation can serve as both a grant discovery resource and a partnership-building platform: helping companies track relevant opportunities, identify collaborators, find pilot or demonstration partners, and strengthen commercialization narratives before submission.
For startups, the message is clear: prepare now. Revisit your technical milestones, define your customer and deployment pathway, identify partners early, and use Empower Innovation to turn a grant opportunity into a broader commercialization strategy.
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