Research grants for Small business

Expected Outcome: Projects should contribute to all of the following expected outcomes: Deepened knowledge of specific factors favouring the growth of creative startups [1] , in particular those with potential for disruptive innovation [2] and/or cross-sectorial innovation impacts, is made available and promoted to policymakers, investors, funding- and enterprise support bodies. Effective methods to favour the growth of creative startups, in particular those with potential for disruptive innovation and/or cross-sectorial innovation impacts, are developed, tested and put in practice by industry, investors, funding- and enterprise support bodies, and relevant decision makers. Examples of creative startups scaling up and/or engaging in disruptive innovation are made available, with a view to increase the visibility and recognition of the innovative power of Europe’s creative startups. In addition, proposals should contribute to at least one of the following expected outcomes, depending on the option chosen (a or b below): The effectiveness of the methods developed is demonstrated by at least one creative startup supported via the action becoming a scaleup [3] in a Member State or an…

Expected Outcome: This action will strengthen Europe's leadership and strategic autonomy in quantum technologies by advancing experimental pilot line capacities as a vital stepping stone toward future industrial-scale quantum hardware production. Qu-Pilot serves as the critical intermediary between academic research and the stable pilot lines under the Chips Joint Undertaking, offering a testbed for technological innovation, reproducibility, and manufacturability. Expected outcomes include: Deployment of experimental quantum pilot lines addressing diverse platforms and materials, laying the groundwork for broader integration into Chips JU pilot lines. Establishment of scalable and reproducible quantum fabrication processes, advancing TRL 4–6 technologies and addressing early-stage certification, standardisation, and quality control. Reinforcement of a pan-European quantum hardware ecosystem through shared infrastructure and open-access models, fostering participation from SMEs, startups, and research institutes. Demonstrated ability to accelerate technology maturity and feed critical feedback loops into future Chips JU stability pilot lines. Enhanced synergies with testing…

Expected Outcome: This action will establish a pan-European open-access testing and experimentation infrastructure for quantum technologies, enabling systematic validation and certification of quantum components and systems. Expected outcomes include: Deployment of distributed quantum testing facilities accessible across Europe, including remote access and standardized test protocols. Provision of certification services aligned with future standardisation efforts, ensuring trust, quality, and interoperability of quantum technologies. Support for SMEs, start-ups, and research institutions in validating quantum components and sub-systems. Strengthening of Europe’s competitiveness by ensuring robust quality assurance mechanisms and accelerating the time-to-market of emerging quantum products. Scope: The proposal should implement the testing-related part of the action plan established under the Framework Partnership Agreement for Qu-Test. The action must include: Expansion and interconnection of open-access testing facilities in multiple Member States, covering a range of quantum technologies (e.g., processors, sensors, photonics, control systems). Development and deployment of…

Expected Outcome: Project results are expected to contribute to some or all of the following expected outcomes: A community of EU civil security practitioners with common user/functional needs for innovative technology solutions is identified, supported by an industrial base, in particular SMEs and Startups, to access the public procurement market and scale up their business; Procurers facilitated the commercialisation of the innovative solutions developed by their successful suppliers by providing them with first customer references for the validation and first pilot deployment; Tested and validated capacity of EU technology and industrial base to develop and produce technology prototypes that meet the diverse needs of the EU user community, regardless of their gender, age and ability; Improved delineation of the EU market (including demand and supply) for innovative civil security systems that can articulate alternative options for uptake in function of different industrialisation needs, commercialisation needs, acquisition needs, deployment needs and additional funding needs (beyond R&I funding). Scope: As past experience shows that pre-commercial procurement opens up the…

Amendment 0007 The purpose of this amendment is to add Summary Topic 61-24-06 - AFFF ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM COMPATIBILITY OF FLUORINE-FREE FOAM (F3) WITH NON-ASPIRATING SPRINKLER NOZZLES to Appendix 1 in it’s entirety. All other terms and conditions remain unchanged. -------------------------------------------------------------- Amendment 0006 The purpose of this amendment is to extend the due date for acceptance of White Papers. All other terms and conditions remain unchanged. -------------------------------------------------------------- Amendment 0005 The purpose of this amendment is to provide a searchable list of Summary Topics contained in Appendix 1. Expanded descriptions of each topic can be found in the full announcement pdf. APPENDIX 1 – RESEARCH DESCRIPTION - SUMMARY TOPICS   II. Detailed information about the funding opportunity   The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is the Navy's corporate laboratory. NRL conducts basic and applied research for the Navy in a variety of scientific and technical disciplines. The basic research program is driven by perceptions about future requirements of the Navy. The Navy's operational effectiveness depends on its ability to keep pace with rapidly developing technologies. NRL contributes to this requirement by conducting research in the following areas, organized into NRL'S three research directorates and Naval Center for Space Technology: Systems Directorate Code 5000 Materials Science and Component Technology Directorate Code 6000 Ocean and Atmospheric Science and Technology Directorate Code 7000 Naval Center for Space Technology Code 8000 A.   SYSTEMS DIRECTORATE - CODE 5000 53-24-01 - HIGH FREQUENCY RADAR 53-24-01C - HIGH FREQUENCY RADAR (CLASSIFIED) 53-24-02 - LOW-COST WIDEBAND ANTENNA ARRAY TECHNOLOGIES 53-24-03 - ADVANCED COMPUTATIONAL ELECTROMAGNETICS 55-24-01 - INFORMATION AND DECISION SCIENCES 55-24-02 - MATHEMATICAL FOUNDATIONS OF HIGH ASSURANCE COMPUTING 55-24-03 - HIGH ASSURANCE ENGINEERING AND COMPUTING 55-24-04 - ADVANCED NAVAL NETWORK SOLUTIONS 55-24-05 - FEDERATED, DISTRIBUTED COMPUTING/NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE 56-24-01 - OPTICAL SCIENCES R&D 57-24-01  - ELECTROMAGNETIC TECHNIQUES AND TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 57-24-02  ​ - SHIPBOARD ELECTRONIC WARFARE   B. MATERIALS SCIENCE AND COMPONENT TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORATE CODE 6000 60-24-01 - HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTING ON MASSIVELY PARALLEL ARCHITECTURES 61-24-01 - ELECTROCHEMICAL ENERGY STORAGE, CONVERSION AND COMMAND/CONTROL 61-24-02 - CORROSION PROCESSES, CONTROL, MITIGATION, AND TECHNOLOGY 61-24-03 - APPLICATIONS OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, BIOCHEMISTRY, ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY AND ADVANCED LASER TECHNIQUES 61-24-04 - MULTIECHELON DIAGNOSTICS (MEDx) TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT AND TIERED EVALUATION 63-24-01 - MATERIALS PERFORMANCE, PROCESSING, AND MODELING 67-24-01 - BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCH IN PLASMA SCIENCE 68-24-01 - RADIATION EFFECTS RESEARCH 68-24-02 - PHOTOVOLTAICS FOR PORTABLE POWER   C.   OCEAN AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORATE CODE 7000 71-24-01 - ACOUSTIC SIMULATION AND TACTICS 72-24-01 - LOW FREQUENCY RADIO INTERFEROMETRY 72-24-02 - OPTICAL REMOTE SENSING OF THE COASTAL REGIME 72-24-03 - REMOTE SENSORS AND IMAGING SYSTEMS 72-24-04 - AIRBORNE, SHIPBOARD, AND OVERHEAD DATA ACQUISITION AND ANALYSIS 73-24-01 - OCEAN DYNAMICS AND PREDICTION OCEANOGRAPHY 73-24-02 - SEAFLOOR SCIENCES 73-24-03 - GEOSPATIAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY 75-24-01 - ATMOSPHERIC EFFECTS, ANALYSIS, AND PREDICTION 76-24-01 - RESEARCH INTO SPACE, BACKGROUNDS, IMAGING AND MODELING   D.   NAVAL CENTER FOR SPACE TECHNOLOGY CODE 8000 82-24-01 - SPACECRAFT & SPACE SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY -------------------------------------------------------------- Amendment 0004 The purpose of this amendment is to extend the due date for acceptance of White Papers and revise Appendix 1 Summary Topics and email addresses in it’s entirety. -------------------------------------------------------------- Amendment 0003 The purpose of this amendment is to extend the due date for acceptance of White Papers. All other terms and conditions remain unchanged. ------------------------------------------------------------- Amendment 0002 The purpose of this amendment is to extend the due date for acceptance of White Papers. All other terms and conditions remain unchanged. ------------------------------------------------------------- Amendment 0001 The purpose of this amendment is to extend the due date for acceptance of White Papers. All other terms and conditions remain unchanged. -------------------------------------------------------------- The Naval Research Laboratory is interested in receiving innovative proposals that offer potential for advancement and improvement in the technical topic areas listed. This notice constitutes a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) as contemplated in FAR 6.302(d) that provides for the competitive selection of research proposals. The Government reserves the right to select for award all, some, or none of the proposals received. Awards under this BAA are expected to take the form of Contracts, Grants, Cooperative Agreements and Other Transactions may also be awarded if appropriate. NRL encourages Educational Institutions, Small Businesses (SBs), Small Disadvantaged Business Concerns (SDBs) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Institutions (MIs) to submit proposals under this BAA. In order to conserve valuable offeror and Government resources, prospective offerors shall first submit a White Paper (WP) to the email address identified in the individual Summary Topics contained in Appendix 1, to include a rough cost estimate. If there is interest in the proposed research the offeror will be invited to submit a Formal Proposal. The selection of proposals for award will be based on a scientific review of proposals submitted in response to each BAA Summary Topic. The major purpose of the evaluation will be to determine the relative merit of the technical approach of each proposal. Business and contractual aspects, including proposed cost and cost realism, will also be considered as part of the evaluation. Selection of proposals for award will be based on the potential benefits to the Government weighed against the cost of the proposals, in view of the availability of funds. The complete BAA including proposal preparation instructions, award considerations, and evaluation criteria is also available at https://www.nrl.navy.mil/Doing-Business/Contracts/Broad-Agency-Announcements/ .

Scope: The proposals must address innovative defence products, solutions and technologies, including those that can improve readiness, deployability, reliability, safety and sustainability of forces in defence tasks and missions, for example in terms of operations, equipment, infrastructure, energy solutions, surveillance systems or digital solutions. Proposals must address disruptive knowledge, products and technologies in any area of defence interest( [1] ) from TRL 4 and above( [1] ). In addition, to best complement R&D efforts that already target civil applications and encourage the efficient spinning-in of knowledge, innovation and technological development to the defence sector, this call topic also welcomes proposals for add-on development actions to adapt solutions originally developed for civil applications and previously not applied in the defence sector. Management mode: Action implemented in indirect management by the European Defence Agency. Form of funding: Contribution Agreement. Entrusted tasks : Implementation of lump sum grants , as decided by the Commission at the time of the awards following the competitive call EDF-2026-LS-DA-SME-NT. Targeted types of…

Scope: The EIC Accelerator supports companies (principally SMEs, including start-ups) to scale up high impact innovations with the potential to create new markets or disrupt existing ones. The EIC Accelerator provides a unique combination of grant and investment funding and Business Acceleration Services (see Section VII of EIC Work Programme 2026). The EIC Accelerator focuses in particular on innovations building on scientific discovery or technological breakthroughs (‘deep tech’) and where significant funding is needed over a long timeframe before returns can be generated (‘patient capital’). Such innovations often struggle to attract financing because the risks and time period involved are too high. Funding and support from the EIC Accelerator is designed to enable such innovators to attract the full investment amounts needed for scale up in a shorter timeframe. The EIC Accelerator supports the later stages of technology development as well as scale up. The technology component of your innovation must therefore have been tested and validated in a laboratory and other relevant environment (e.g., at least Technology Readiness Level 5 completed). The EIC Accelerator looks to…

The Sociology Program supports basic research on all forms of human social organization — societies, institutions, groups and demography — and processes of individual and institutional change. The program encourages theoretically focused empirical investigations aimed at improving the explanation of fundamental social processes. This includes research on organizations and organizational behavior, population dynamics, social movements, social groups, labor force participation, stratification and mobility, family, social networks, socialization, and the sociology of science and technology. The program supports both original data collection and secondary data analysis that use the full range of quantitative and qualitative methodological tools. Theoretically grounded projects that offer methodological innovations and improvements for data collection and analysis are also welcomed. Principal Investigators should selectPD 98-1331in the program announcement/solicitation block on the proposal cover sheet for submission of regular research projects to the sociology program. Projects are evaluated using the two foundation-wide criteria, intellectual merit and broader impacts . In assessing the intellectual merit of proposed research, four components are key to securing support from the Sociology Program: (1) the issues investigated must be theoretically grounded; (2) the research should be based on empirical observation or be subject to empirical validation or illustration; (3) the research design must be appropriate to the questions asked; and (4) the proposed research must advance our understanding of social processes, structures and methods. NSF also offers a number of specialized funding opportunities through its crosscutting and cross-directorate activities; some of the sociology-related opportunities are listed below. Crosscutting Research & Training Opportunities: ADVANCE: Increasing the Participation and Advancement of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Careers Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program Mid-scale Research Infrastructure Programs SBE Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (SPRF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Research at Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program To get information about these programs and others, please visit the cross-cutting and NSF-wide active funding opportunities search page. NSF's mission calls for the broadening of opportunities for and expanding participation of groups, institutions and geographic regions that are underrepresented in STEM disciplines, which is essential to the health and vitality of science and engineering. NSF is committed to this principle of diversity and deems it central to the programs, projects and activities it considers and supports. NSF is also committed to public access to publications and data, unless there are countervailing interests that prohibit or limit public access to data, including matters of personally identifiable information of research participants, privacy or other issues of vulnerability such as economic, social or other security interests, etc.). See Public Access to Results of NSF-Funded Research and Data Management for NSF SBE Directorate Proposals and Awards for more information.

The Catalysis program is part of the Chemical Process Systems cluster, which also includes: 1) the Electrochemical Systems program; 2) the Interfacial Engineering program; and 3) the Process Systems, Reaction Engineering, and Molecular Thermodynamics program. The goals of the Catalysis program are to increase fundamental understanding in catalytic engineering science and to advance the development of catalysts and catalytic reactions that are beneficial to society. Research should focus on critical challenges and opportunities in both new and proven catalysis technologies. Areas of emphasis may include novel catalyst compositions, structures, operating environment, data science tools, theory, and modeling – preferably in various combinations as dictated by the specific reaction and related knowledge and technology gaps. Target applications include fuels, specialty and bulk chemicals, environmental catalysis, biomass conversion to fuels and chemicals, greenhouse gas mitigation, recycling of waste materials, generation of solar hydrogen, as well as efficient routes to energy utilization. Heterogeneous catalysis represents the main thrust of the program. Proposals related to both gas-solid and liquid-solid heterogeneous catalysis are welcome, as are proposals that incorporate concepts from homogeneous catalysis. Recent research trends have highlighted the need for evaluation of catalyst performance and properties under working conditions, especially as supported by advanced in situ and in operando characterization methods. Catalyst synthesizability and stability present additional research opportunities given the harsh operating environments of many catalytic processes. Topic areas of particular interest include: Energy-related catalysis, utilizing renewable or sustainable energy in lieu of thermal, fossil fuel-based technologies, especially applications in electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, and catalytic conversion of biomass-derived chemicals, and also including fuel cell catalysis. Catalysis aimed at closing the carbon cycle (especially conversion of carbon dioxide, methane, and natural gas to fuels and chemical intermediates). Heterogeneous catalytic alternatives to traditionally non-catalytic or homogeneous reaction processes, as well as new catalyst designs for established catalytic processes. Environmental catalysis focused on mitigating both air and water pollutants, and supporting energy-efficient upcycling of waste materials to higher-value products. Catalytic remediation of feedstocks, process streams, products, or effluents. Commercially scalable methods of catalyst synthesis, including durable, poison-resistant, and easily regenerable catalyst formulations and designs. New catalytic materials and architectures (especially those substituting earth-abundant materials for precious and noble metal catalysts). Basic understanding of catalytic materials, reaction pathways, kinetics, and surface reaction mechanisms. Advanced tools for catalyst characterization and theoretical/computational catalysis. Proposals that deal with new catalytic materials, especially when viewed in light of the inherent complexity of heterogeneous catalytic reactions, will be enhanced by including plans to assess: 1) reproducibility and repeatability of data, 2) stability under realistic operating conditions including start-up and shut-down cycles, 3) performance relative to standard or well-known reference materials, and 4) quantitative, well-accepted measures of catalyst activity, selectivity, and catalytic efficiency, such as turnover frequencies, quantum and/or photon yields of photocatalysts, Faradaic efficiency of electrocatalytic reactions, and detailed product analyses and mass balances for the targeted application. NOTE: Proposals that focus on 1) molecular or homogeneous catalysis, 2) the surface science of catalysis, 3) photo redox catalysis, 4) catalytic organic synthesis reactions, and/or 5) fine chemical synthesis and pharmaceutical applications of catalysis may be more appropriately submitted to the Chemical Catalysis program.(CHE 6884) in the Division of Chemistry in the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences. Proposals focused on biocatalytic processes, including proposals focusing on enzyme engineering, cellular and biomolecular processes, should be submitted to the Cellular and Biochemical Engineering program (CBET 1491). If the proposal focuses on reaction engineering aspects of catalytic processes, submit to the Process Systems, Reaction Engineering, and Molecular Thermodynamics program (CBET 1403). Projects that are interdisciplinary in nature may be jointly funded with other CBET and NSF programs. Program directors will review the submissions and may transfer your proposal to give it the best review situation. Innovative proposals outside of these specific interest areas may be considered. However, prior to submission, it is recommended that the Principal Investigator contact the program director to avoid the possibility of the proposal being returned without review. INFORMATION COMMON TO MOST CBET PROGRAMS Proposals should address the novelty and/or potentially transformative nature of the proposed work compared to previous work in the field.Also, it is important to address why the proposed work is important in terms of engineering science, as well as to also project the potential impact on society and/or industry of success in the research.The novelty or potentially transformative nature of the research should be included, as a minimum, in the Project Summary of each proposal. The duration of unsolicited proposal awards in CBET is generally up to three years. Single-investigator award budgets typically include support for one graduate student (or equivalent) and up to one month of principal investigator time per year(awards for multiple investigator projects are typically larger). Proposal budgets that are much larger than typical should be discussed with the program director prior to submission. Proposers can view budget amounts and other information from recent awards made by this program via the ?What Has Been Funded (Recent Awards Made Through This Program, with Abstracts)? link towards the bottom of this page. Faculty Early Career Development(CAREER)program proposals are strongly encouraged. Award duration is five years.The submission deadline for Engineering CAREER proposals is in July every year. Learn more in the CAREER program description . Proposals for Conferences, Workshops, and Supplements: PIs are strongly encouraged to discuss their requests with the rogram director before submission of the proposal. Grants forRapid Response Research(RAPID)andEArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research(EAGER)are also considered when appropriate. Please note that proposals of these types must be discussed with the program director before submission. Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI)proposals that integrate fundamental research with translational results and are consistent with the application areas of interest to each program are also encouraged. Please note that RAPID, EAGER, and GOALI proposals can be submitted anytime during the year. Details about RAPID, EAGER, and GOALI are available in theProposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide(PAPPG), Part 1, Chapter II, Section E: Types of Proposals. COMPLIANCE: Proposals which are not compliant with the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) will be returned without review.

The Disability and Rehabilitation Engineering program is part of the Engineering Biology and Health cluster, which also includes: 1) the Biophotonics program; 2) the Biosensing program; 3) the Cellular and Biochemical Engineering program; and 4) the Engineering of Biomedical Systems program. The Disability and Rehabilitation Engineering program supports fundamental engineering research that will improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities through the development of new theories, methodologies, technologies, or devices. Disabilities could be developmental, cognitive, hearing, mobility, visual, selfcare, independent living, or other. Proposed projects must advance knowledge regarding a specific human disability or pathological motion or understanding of injury mechanisms. Research may be supported that is directed toward the characterization, restoration, rehabilitation, and/or substitution of human functional ability or cognition, or to the interaction between persons with disabilities and their environment. Areas of particular interest are neuroengineering, rehabilitation robotics, brain-inspired assistive or rehabilitative systems, theoretical or computational methods, and novel models of functional recovery including the development and application of artificial physiological systems. Emphasis is placed on significant advancement of fundamental engineering knowledge that facilitates transformative outcomes. The DARE Program encourages high-risk/high-reward proposals that surpass incremental technological improvements. The DARE Program also encourages participatory design and the inclusion of trainees with disabilities as part of the proposed research or broader impacts. Innovative proposals outside of the above specific interest areas may be considered. However, prior to submission, it is recommended that the PI contact the Program Director to avoid the possibility of the proposal being returned without review. NSF does not support clinical trials; however, feasibility studies involving human volunteers may be supported if appropriate to the project objectives. The development and application of artificial physiological systems that do not model functional recovery and instead improve fundamental understanding of physiological and pathophysiological processes would be appropriate for EBMS. Furthermore, the DARE program does not support proposals having as their central theme commercialization of a product. Small businesses seeking early stage R&D funding for product development are encouraged to contact the NSF SBIR/STTR program in the America's Seed Fund within the Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP). INFORMATION COMMON TO MOST CBET PROGRAMS Proposals should address the novelty and/or potentially transformative nature of the proposed work compared to previous work in the field. Also, it is important to address why the proposed work is important in terms of engineering science, as well as to also project the potential impact of success in the research on society and/or industry. The novelty or potentially transformative nature of the research should be included, as a minimum, in the Project Summary of each proposal. The duration of unsolicited proposal awards in CBET is generally up to three years. Single-investigator award budgets typically include support for one graduate student (or equivalent) and up to one month of principal investigator time per year (awards for multiple investigator projects are typically larger). Proposal budgets that are much larger than typical should be discussed with the Program Director prior to submission. Proposers can view budget amounts and other information from recent awards made by this program via the "What Has Been Funded (Recent Awards Made Through This Program, with Abstracts)" link towards the bottom of this page. Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) program proposals are strongly encouraged. Award duration is five years. The submission deadline for Engineering CAREER proposals is in July every year. Learn more in the CAREER program description . Proposals for Conferences, Workshops, and Supplements: PIs are strongly encouraged to discuss their requests with the program director before submission of the proposal. Grants for Facilitation Awards For Scientists And Engineers With Disabilities (FASED), EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER), and Rapid Response Research (RAPID) are also considered when appropriate. Please note that proposals of these types must be discussed with the program director before submission. Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) proposals that integrate fundamental research with translational results and are consistent with the application areas of interest to each program are also encouraged. Please note that FASED, EAGER, RAPID, and GOALI proposals can be submitted anytime during the year. Details about FASED, EAGER, RAPID, and GOALI are available in the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG), Part 1, Chapter II, Section E: Types of Proposals. Compliance: Proposals that are not compliant with the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) will be returned without review.