DOE SBIR/STTR Fall 2026 Phase I Topics
U.S. Department of Energy (Office of Technology Commercialization) · SBIR/STTR
VariesNon-dilutive SBIR/STTR funding: more than $200 million across 25 Fall 2026 Phase I topics, with Go/No-Go progression to later phases without a new application (award size set per topic)
The Department of Energy's restructured SBIR/STTR programme, now run by its Office of Technology Commercialization: US small businesses pitch against 25 Phase I topics (grid, cybersecurity, nuclear detection and other energy and national-security areas) and can progress to later phases through milestone decisions.
Key terms
- For-profit US small businesses meeting SBA SBIR/STTR eligibility rules (STTR needs a research-institution partner)
- Start by submitting a pitch against one of the 25 Fall 2026 Phase I topics via the DOE SBIR/STTR Application Hub
- One application enters the programme; later phases follow Go/No-Go decisions on technical progress and commercial potential
- Required registrations (SAM.gov, SBA company registry) take time: start early
- Pitches due 2026-12-16 (2:00 p.m. ET per DOE notice)
Eligibility
- Where
- United States
- Stages
- pre-seed, seed, series-a, growth
- Needs VC/accelerator backing
- No
- Needs partner referral code
- No
- Must be incorporated
- Yes
- AI focus required
- No
- Students / researchers
- Not eligible
- Nonprofits
- Not eligible
Also required
- US for-profit small business meeting SBA SBIR/STTR rules
- Topic fit with one of 25 DOE Fall 2026 topics
How to apply
Review the Fall 2026 Phase I topics and submit a pitch through the DOE SBIR/STTR Application Hub by 16 December 2026.
- Benefit
- cash
- Equity-free
- Yes
- Decision time
- —
- Credit validity
- —
- Deadline
- 2026-12-16
- Status
- Open
Verified 2026-11-08 · source
More: Government grants for startups · Startup programs in the United States