SBIR

The National Science Foundation awarded Anu a $500,000 Phase IIB Small Business Innovation Research grant to scale production of its compostable Plug-and-Grow Seed Pods and test the nutritional quality of produce grown in its automated systems. The award supports manufacturing at Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana and Anu’s healthcare-focused Food is Medicine platform; it is not an open solicitation.

The **National Institutes of Health** awarded **UP Oncolytics** $2.5 million in Phase II SBIR Fast-Track funding for a two-year effort to complete preclinical development of an engineered Zika-virus therapy and prepare an Investigational New Drug application. The research award builds on a prior $500,000 Phase I award and is not an open procurement, but future testing, manufacturing, and clinical-trial support needs may emerge if the program advances.

SpaceWERX facilitated a Direct-to-Phase-II SBIR award to The Tech7 Company to prototype PLATE, an AWS-based, unclassified testbed for developing and evaluating applications for potential use in Space Development Agency tranches and the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. Work is scheduled to begin in October 2026; the award value and contract number were not disclosed, and a future Phase III is a possible transition path—not an open solicitation or guaranteed award.

North Carolina’s FY2027 One North Carolina Small Business Program allocates $2.13 million to support tech-based small businesses with federal Phase I SBIR/STTR grants. This funding includes both application-preparation incentives and matching grants, emphasizing the state’s commitment to fostering innovation.

The U.S. Army has awarded Unstructured a **$2 million SBIR contract** to enhance AI-ready data processing for military applications. This initiative will streamline decision-making and operational efficiency through advanced technology in anomaly detection and sensor data management.

The U.S. Navy has awarded significant contracts totaling over $1 billion for environmental and IT modernization projects. These projects signal a robust commitment towards environmental restoration and cybersecurity, providing contractors with long-term opportunities in these crucial areas.

The U.S. Department of War has awarded a **$1 million** Phase II **SBIR contract** to **Flash Metals Texas** for advancing the recovery of gallium and germanium from electronic waste. This initiative aims to enhance U.S. capabilities in critical mineral supply chains crucial for defense and semiconductor applications.

The U.S. Air Force has awarded a Direct-to-Phase II SBIR contract to Icarus Quantum for developing high-efficiency entangled photon sources. This initiative, aimed at enhancing quantum computing and secure communications, reflects a strategic investment in quantum technology and offers significant business opportunities for contractors in this emerging field.