Opportunity Information: Apply for 26 511
This NSF funding opportunity is a pilot emphasis area within the long-running SBIR and STTR programs, focused specifically on scientific instrumentation and other enabling technologies that help researchers push the boundaries of discovery. The basic idea is that funding great science is not enough on its own; the country also needs next-generation tools such as new instruments, experimental platforms, and advanced scientific equipment that make entirely new kinds of research possible. NSF is using this pilot to support U.S. startups and small businesses that are building the kinds of hardware and enabling systems that strengthen the American science and engineering enterprise, including instrumentation needed for the emerging era of AI-driven discovery. While the emphasis is on scientific instrumentation, the solicitation is not a procurement program and is not asking companies to build particular tools for NSF to buy. Instead, it supports companies developing broadly enabling, commercially relevant deep technologies across many sectors, as long as they align with the goal of advancing scientific discovery and research infrastructure.
The program is offered through multiple SBIR/STTR pathways: Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track, and various supplemental opportunities. Across these tracks, a company can receive up to $2.0 million total for research and development through the program (with additional options possible for certain Phase II awardees through special mechanisms). NSF also highlights that it takes no equity in funded companies, and awardees retain full ownership of their business and intellectual property, which is a major feature of NSF’s approach compared with many private funding sources. The opportunity also sits within NSF’s broader priorities around expanding participation in STEM and maintaining high standards of scientific rigor, integrity, and adherence to what NSF calls “Gold Standard Science,” meaning proposals are expected to reflect strong methodological quality and responsible research practices appropriate to the field and technology area.
Eligibility is limited to U.S. small business concerns that meet SBIR/STTR requirements, including compliance with the SBIR/STTR Policy Directive and relevant federal regulations. A key detail is the size standard: the small business must have no more than 500 employees, and that count includes affiliates (so related entities can affect eligibility). For STTR proposals specifically, the small business must formally partner with a research institution as part of the project, reflecting the STTR program’s intent to tightly integrate nonprofit research capabilities with company-led commercialization.
The application process has a structured gate for Phase I and Fast-Track submissions. Companies cannot simply submit a full Phase I proposal whenever they want; they first must submit a “Project Pitch” through NSF’s process and receive an official invitation from NSF program staff. That invitation is time-limited, valid only for the next two submission deadlines after the invitation is issued. If the invitation expires, the company must submit a new Project Pitch to re-enter the pipeline. NSF also enforces workload limits: a company may submit at most two Project Pitches per year (on a rolling 12-month basis), and NSF caps submissions for the same project or technology to no more than three total pitches, regardless of topic area. For Fast-Track, the same invitation requirement applies, and once invited, the company must submit the full Fast-Track proposal within four months, which is designed to speed the path from feasibility work to more substantial development when the project is a good fit.
Phase II is restricted to companies that already received an NSF SBIR or STTR Phase I award. Timing matters: Phase II proposals must be submitted within a window of 6 to 24 months after the start date of the relevant Phase I award, which effectively pushes teams to demonstrate credible technical progress and a commercialization path relatively quickly. For companies already in Phase II, NSF also points to supplemental funding opportunities tied to strategic partners and outside investors, including the Phase IIB supplement mechanism. In addition, Phase II awardees may be able to pursue “Strategic Breakthrough” proposals, but only when recommended by the cognizant NSF Program Officer, signaling that this option is reserved for cases where NSF sees exceptional promise or a particularly high-impact inflection point.
The Principal Investigator requirements follow standard SBIR/STTR rules that keep the work firmly anchored in the small business. The PI’s primary employment must be with the small business at the time of award and throughout the award period (unless the company formally changes the PI). “Primary employment” is defined as at least 51 percent employment by the small business, which is intended to ensure the company is truly leading the project rather than outsourcing leadership to outside organizations.
Administratively, the opportunity is run by the U.S. National Science Foundation as a discretionary grant program in the science and technology research and development category (CFDA 47.084). The posted information indicates an original closing date of 2026-07-27, and an anticipated number of awards around 86, though actual award volume can vary depending on funding availability and proposal quality. The central theme throughout is that NSF wants to back early-stage, high-impact, instrument-focused innovations that can become commercially viable products while simultaneously upgrading the nation’s capacity to do world-class science, especially in domains where new instruments can unlock whole new fields of research.Apply for 26 511
- The U.S. National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track Programs (SBIR/STTR): A Pilot Emphasis on Scientific Instrumentation." and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.084.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-05-22.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-27. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 86 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this NSF funding opportunity focused on?
This is an NSF pilot emphasis area within the SBIR and STTR programs focused on scientific instrumentation and other enabling technologies. The goal is to support next-generation tools (for example, new instruments, experimental platforms, and advanced scientific equipment) that help researchers push the boundaries of discovery and strengthen U.S. research infrastructure.
2) Is NSF asking companies to build specific instruments for NSF to purchase?
No. The solicitation is not a procurement program and is not asking companies to build particular tools for NSF to buy. It supports companies developing broadly enabling, commercially relevant deep technologies across many sectors, as long as they align with advancing scientific discovery and research infrastructure.
3) Who is this opportunity intended to support?
The pilot is intended to support U.S. startups and small businesses that are building hardware and enabling systems that strengthen the American science and engineering enterprise, including instrumentation relevant to the emerging era of AI-driven discovery.
4) Which NSF programs and pathways are available under this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered through multiple SBIR/STTR pathways, including Phase I, Phase II, Fast-Track, and various supplemental opportunities.
5) How much funding can a company receive through these tracks?
Across the tracks, a company can receive up to $2.0 million total for research and development through the program. Additional options may be possible for certain Phase II awardees through special mechanisms described by NSF.
6) Does NSF take equity in funded companies?
No. NSF highlights that it takes no equity in funded companies, and awardees retain full ownership of their business and intellectual property.
7) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to U.S. small business concerns that meet SBIR/STTR requirements, including compliance with the SBIR/STTR Policy Directive and relevant federal regulations.
8) What is the company size limit for eligibility?
The small business must have no more than 500 employees, and the employee count includes affiliates. Related entities can affect eligibility.
9) Are there special requirements for STTR proposals?
Yes. For STTR proposals specifically, the small business must formally partner with a research institution as part of the project, reflecting STTRs intent to integrate nonprofit research capabilities with company-led commercialization.
10) Do Phase I and Fast-Track applicants need to submit a Project Pitch first?
Yes. For Phase I and Fast-Track submissions, companies must submit a Project Pitch through NSFs process and receive an official invitation from NSF program staff before submitting a full proposal.
11) How long is a Project Pitch invitation valid?
The invitation is time-limited and is valid only for the next two submission deadlines after the invitation is issued. If it expires, the company must submit a new Project Pitch to re-enter the pipeline.
12) Are there limits on how many Project Pitches a company can submit?
Yes. A company may submit at most two Project Pitches per year on a rolling 12-month basis.
13) Are there limits on how many times the same project can be pitched?
Yes. NSF caps submissions for the same project or technology to no more than three total pitches, regardless of topic area.
14) What is the Fast-Track timing requirement after an invitation?
For Fast-Track, the same invitation requirement applies. Once invited, the company must submit the full Fast-Track proposal within four months.
15) Who can apply for Phase II funding?
Phase II is restricted to companies that already received an NSF SBIR or STTR Phase I award.
16) When must a Phase II proposal be submitted?
Phase II proposals must be submitted within a window of 6 to 24 months after the start date of the relevant Phase I award.
17) Are there supplemental funding opportunities for Phase II awardees?
Yes. NSF points to supplemental funding opportunities tied to strategic partners and outside investors, including the Phase IIB supplement mechanism.
18) What are Strategic Breakthrough proposals and who can submit them?
Phase II awardees may be able to pursue Strategic Breakthrough proposals, but only when recommended by the cognizant NSF Program Officer. This indicates the option is reserved for cases with exceptional promise or a high-impact inflection point.
19) What are the Principal Investigator (PI) employment requirements?
The PIs primary employment must be with the small business at the time of award and throughout the award period (unless the company formally changes the PI). Primary employment is defined as at least 51 percent employment by the small business.
20) What does NSF mean by high standards like Gold Standard Science?
NSF emphasizes scientific rigor, integrity, and adherence to Gold Standard Science. Proposals are expected to reflect strong methodological quality and responsible research practices appropriate to the field and technology area.
21) Which agency runs this opportunity and what type of funding is it?
This opportunity is run by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) as a discretionary grant program in the science and technology research and development category.
22) What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 47.084.
23) What is the posted closing date?
The posted information indicates an original closing date of 2026-07-27.
24) How many awards does NSF anticipate making?
The anticipated number of awards is around 86, though actual award volume can vary depending on funding availability and proposal quality.
25) What is the overarching purpose of this pilot emphasis area?
The central theme is to back early-stage, high-impact, instrument-focused innovations that can become commercially viable products while also upgrading the nations capacity to do world-class science, including areas where new instruments can unlock entirely new fields of research.
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