Congress reauthorizes small business innovation and technology transfer programs

President Donald J. Trump has signed into law the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act (S. 3971), reauthorizing the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs and prompting the War Department to move forward with a redesigned initiative to accelerate delivery of advanced capabilities to the warfighter.

The reauthorization enables the Department to relaunch its SBIR/STTR enterprise with a unified and accountable mission aligned with Secretary Hegseth’s mandate to prioritize fielding critical capabilities at scale. The revamped structure is built to deliver across three innovation outcomes—differentiated technology, scalable products, and operational capability innovation—by leveraging American small businesses and academic expertise, growing the defense industrial base through commercialization, and working in lockstep with the Small Business Administration.

“The reauthorization of SBIR and STTR will allow the War Department to quickly align its innovation investments directly with our most urgent warfighting needs,” said Emil Michael, Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering. “We are supercharging American small businesses to become a critical part of our national defense. They will ensure our warfighters maintain a decisive battlefield advantage for years to come.”

As part of the overhaul, the Office for Small Business Innovation has launched the Accelerated Research for Transition (ART) Program to strengthen technology transition. ART provides multiple pathways for the Department to capitalize on SBIR/STTR innovations through additional non-dilutive capital that supports movement from development to production, operation, and sustainment.

“We are laser-focused on rebuilding military lethality and reestablishing deterrence,” said Joseph Jewell, Ph.D., Assistant Secretary of War for Science and Technology. “The reauthorization of the SBIR and STTR programs, enhanced by our new Accelerated Research for Transition (ART) Program, is a critical engine for this effort. American small business ingenuity is essential to delivering superior technology that sharpens our warfighters’ edge and reinforces their warrior spirit.”

The Department said SBIR and STTR have long been pillars of defense innovation, channeling billions of dollars in research and development awards to thousands of small business innovators. Under the relaunch, investments will map directly to the Department’s newly designated critical technology areas.

“Reauthorization of the SBIR/STTR program ensures we can continue delivering critical technologies to the warfighter, responsibly invest taxpayer dollars, and empower U.S. small businesses to drive innovation that strengthens our national security,” said Gina Sims, Director of the Department of War Office for Small Business Innovation.

Following reauthorization, the Department issued multiple SBIR/STTR solicitations, including more than 90 topics seeking innovative capabilities from industry. Small businesses can find details on open solicitations and proposal timelines at the Department of War SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal: https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/submissions/login.