Is Your Project Innovative Enough for NSF SBIR/STTR Grant Funding?

Grantify receives hundreds of enquiries every week regarding NSF SBIR/STTR applications, but we only work with a fraction of those submissions. One of the reasons? More than one-quarter of grant enquiries involve projects that lack innovation.

If you’re an entrepreneur or researcher aiming to bring a cutting-edge idea to market, the National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs could be your golden ticket. But there’s one critical question standing between you and funding:

Will the NSF think your project is truly innovative?

The NSF SBIR/STTR programs are designed to help small businesses commercialize science- and technology-based innovations. Unlike other funding sources that may focus on incremental improvements, the NSF wants projects that are bold, transformative, and truly novel.

• SBIR: You can develop your own tech in-house.
• STTR: You must collaborate with a research institution, combining small business agility with academic expertise.

Learn more about the differences between SBIR and STTR.

Innovation for NSF is not just a buzzword. It has a specific meaning in the context of SBIR/STTR:

1. Technical Novelty: Your project should explore uncharted territory. Are you doing something the world hasn’t seen before and significantly advancing beyond the current state-of-the-art?
2. Commercial Potential: Innovation alone isn’t enough. The NSF wants technologies that will be able to succeed in the marketplace if the innovation can be significantly de-risked.
3. Impact on Industry or Society: Will your project change the way an industry operates or solve a significant societal problem?

Remember: The NSF wants more than incremental improvements: they’re looking to support disruptive ideas.

When your proposal is received by an NSF reviewer, they are trained to scrutinize every claim. Reviewers typically ask:

• Is this technology truly novel, or just a small tweak of existing solutions?
• Does the project push the boundaries of science and engineering?
• Could the proposed innovation transform a market or field?

Your task is to convince reviewers that your project is not only feasible but game-changing.

This is why Grantify has multiple layers of eligibility checks through our free quiz and discovery consultations. Our goal is to make sure your time and effort are well-invested and that you have a genuine, fair opportunity to secure funding and won’t waste resources on an application if your innovation isn’t going to cut it for the NSF.

Innovative ideas explore new scientific or engineering ground, with potential for disruption.

Non-innovative ideas rely heavily on existing methods, tools, or products, often with only incremental changes made.

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1. Clearly Identify the Problem: Describe a real-world challenge in a way that highlights the urgency and scale.

2. Show the Gap: Demonstrate why existing solutions fall short. Use data and references to back your claims.

3. Describe the Novelty: Explain what’s different and novel about your approach.

4. Highlight Potential Impact: How will this innovation affect the market, industry, or society at large?

While many founders have some exciting, promising innovations, these projects may not always meet the NSF’s strict funding criteria. As a starting point, we recommend referring to the NSF’s official definition of technical innovation, conducting analyses of the competitive landscape, and undertaking freedom to operate searches (FTO) to ensure you’re not infringing on a third party’s patents. You’re responsible for self-certifying that your project meets the relevant innovation criteria.

The Grantity process is also designed to help founders gain clarity from the very beginning, supporting you in putting your efforts into the right opportunities. The first step with Grantify involves a quick eligibility quiz, which will determine whether your project could qualify. If you pass the quiz, you’ll have the chance to book a free consultation to tell us more about your business and project.