Opportunity Information: Apply for 23 516
The NSF Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number 23-516) is a National Science Foundation grant program designed to help US startups and small businesses advance promising technologies beyond the earliest proof-of-concept stage and move them closer to real-world deployment and commercialization. The program traces its roots back to an NSF pilot launched in 1977 to support high-risk, potentially high-payoff innovation in small firms, and it continues that same core purpose today: using targeted federal support to turn strong science and engineering ideas into products, services, and scalable solutions that can generate broad societal and economic benefits.
At its core, this Phase II program focuses on translation rather than basic research. NSF is not primarily funding open-ended discovery science here; instead, it is backing the kind of research and development work that helps a company take a breakthrough grounded in science or engineering and push it out of the lab and toward the market or other large-scale use. A defining feature is that it provides non-dilutive funding, meaning the company can pursue technical development without giving up equity, which is especially important at early stages when private capital may be expensive or hard to obtain due to technical and market risk.
The solicitation emphasizes that proposals should be rooted in groundbreaking scientific discoveries or significant engineering breakthroughs aligned with NSF's broader mission to advance science, strengthen national health and prosperity, and support national welfare and defense. The program operates under the federal SBIR/STTR statute (15 U.S.C. 638) and the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (as amended), which frame how NSF supports small businesses in developing innovative technologies that have commercial potential or clear societal value.
A notable aspect of the NSF SBIR/STTR program is its broad topic openness. Unlike many funding opportunities that narrow applicants into a short list of priority areas, NSF explicitly states that it does not have a single technological focus and welcomes proposals across many technical and market domains. NSF maintains a topic portfolio and points applicants to its Seed Fund website for examples and program staff contacts. If a proposed technology does not neatly fit an existing topic area, the program allows submission under an "Other Topics" category, signaling a willingness to consider novel or emerging areas that may not yet be formally categorized.
From a policy and impact standpoint, the program aims to strengthen the national economy by stimulating private-sector innovation, expanding the role of small businesses in meeting federal research and development needs, and increasing the commercial application of research results that were supported by federal investment. It also highlights workforce development as an intended outcome, with a particular emphasis on fostering participation among socially and economically disadvantaged and women-owned small businesses, reflecting NSF's interest in broadening innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities across the US.
Administratively, the opportunity is a discretionary grant in the science and technology research and development category, offered by the National Science Foundation. It lists multiple CFDA numbers (47.041, 47.049, 47.050, 47.070, 47.074, 47.075, 47.076, 47.079, 47.083, 47.084), reflecting NSF's coverage across a wide range of research domains. The posted record indicates an expected 110 awards, with an award ceiling shown as 0 in the extracted listing (which typically means the ceiling is not specified in that particular field rather than implying no funding). The original closing date shown is March 1, 2023, and eligibility is broadly described as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement text.
In practical terms, this Phase II opportunity is best understood as NSF's mechanism for helping small businesses bridge the gap between early technical feasibility and a solution that is credible to customers, partners, and follow-on funders. It is aimed at companies that can articulate both a strong technical innovation case and a clear path to impact, whether that impact is commercial adoption, large-scale deployment, or measurable societal benefit.Apply for 23 516
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NSF Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Programs Phase II" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.041, 47.049, 47.050, 47.070, 47.074, 47.075, 47.076, 47.079, 47.083, 47.084.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 18, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 01, 2023. (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 110 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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NSF SBIR/STTR Phase II (Funding Opportunity 23-516) FAQs
1) What is the NSF SBIR/STTR Phase II opportunity (23-516)?
It is a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity for US startups and small businesses to advance promising technologies beyond the earliest proof-of-concept stage and move closer to real-world deployment and commercialization. It is part of NSF's SBIR/STTR portfolio and is intended to turn strong science and engineering ideas into products, services, and scalable solutions with broad societal and economic benefits.
2) What is the main goal of Phase II in this program?
The central goal is technology translation rather than open-ended basic research. Phase II supports research and development work that helps a company move a breakthrough (grounded in science or engineering) out of the lab and toward the market or other large-scale use.
3) Is this program focused on basic research or commercialization?
The program is oriented toward translation and development that de-risks a technology for real-world use. NSF is not primarily funding discovery science here; it is backing R&D that helps make a technology credible for deployment, customers, partners, and follow-on funders.
4) Why is the funding described as "non-dilutive"?
The opportunity provides non-dilutive funding, meaning a company can pursue technical development without giving up equity. This can be especially important at early stages when private capital may be expensive or difficult to obtain due to technical and market risk.
5) What kinds of innovations does NSF want to fund under this Phase II solicitation?
Proposals are expected to be rooted in groundbreaking scientific discoveries or significant engineering breakthroughs aligned with NSF's broader mission to advance science, strengthen national health and prosperity, and support national welfare and defense.
6) Does NSF restrict proposals to specific topic areas?
No. A notable feature of NSF's SBIR/STTR program is broad topic openness. NSF explicitly states it does not have a single technological focus and welcomes proposals across many technical and market domains.
7) What if my technology does not fit an existing NSF topic area?
If a proposed technology does not neatly fit an existing topic area, the program allows submission under an "Other Topics" category. This is intended to accommodate novel or emerging areas that may not yet be formally categorized.
8) Where can applicants find examples of topic areas or relevant contacts?
NSF maintains a topic portfolio and points applicants to its Seed Fund website for examples and program staff contacts.
9) Who is this opportunity designed to help?
It is designed to help US startups and small businesses bridge the gap between early technical feasibility and a solution that is credible for real-world use and commercialization.
10) What outcomes does NSF emphasize beyond technical progress?
Beyond advancing technology, the program highlights impacts such as strengthening the national economy, stimulating private-sector innovation, expanding the role of small businesses in meeting federal R&D needs, and increasing commercial application of federally supported research results. It also highlights workforce development as an intended outcome.
11) Does the program place any emphasis on broadening participation?
Yes. The solicitation highlights workforce development and emphasizes fostering participation among socially and economically disadvantaged and women-owned small businesses, reflecting NSF's interest in broadening innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities across the US.
12) What federal authorities or statutes govern this program?
The program operates under the federal SBIR/STTR statute (15 U.S.C. 638) and the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (as amended), which provide the framework for how NSF supports small businesses developing innovative technologies with commercial potential or clear societal value.
13) What type of award is this?
It is a discretionary grant offered by the National Science Foundation in the science and technology research and development category.
14) How many awards are expected?
The posted record indicates an expected 110 awards.
15) What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The extracted listing shows an award ceiling of 0. In listings like this, that typically indicates the ceiling was not specified in that particular field, rather than indicating there is no funding.
16) What is the closing date shown in the listing?
The original closing date shown is March 1, 2023.
17) Who is eligible to apply?
The listing describes eligibility broadly as "Others" and notes that additional eligibility details are referenced in the full announcement text.
18) What is the program's historical background?
The program traces its roots to an NSF pilot launched in 1977 to support high-risk, potentially high-payoff innovation in small firms. The Phase II opportunity continues that core purpose today by using targeted federal support to advance innovations with strong potential impact.
19) How should a company describe impact in a Phase II proposal?
Based on the solicitation description, companies should be able to articulate both (1) a strong technical innovation case grounded in science or engineering and (2) a clear path to impact, whether through commercial adoption, large-scale deployment, or measurable societal benefit.
20) What does it mean that NSF is "topic open"?
It means NSF is not limiting applicants to a narrow set of priority areas. Instead, it welcomes proposals across a wide range of technologies and markets, supported by a topic portfolio for guidance and an "Other Topics" option for technologies that do not fit existing categories.
21) What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity lists multiple CFDA numbers, reflecting NSF's coverage across many research domains: 47.041, 47.049, 47.050, 47.070, 47.074, 47.075, 47.076, 47.079, 47.083, 47.084.
22) What stage of technology is this Phase II program trying to address?
It targets the gap between earliest proof-of-concept and a more deployment-ready, commercialization-ready technology. In practical terms, it supports the R&D steps needed to move from feasibility to credibility in the eyes of customers, partners, and follow-on funders.
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