The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is a highly competitive program that encourages domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) that has the potential for commercialization. Through a competitive awards-based program, SBIR enables small businesses to explore their technological potential and provides the incentive to profit from its commercialization. By including qualified small businesses in the nation’s R&D arena, high-tech innovation is stimulated and the United States gains entrepreneurial spirit as it meets its specific research and development needs.
The special US Air Force SBIR topics (AF19.1-001->008), developed in partnership with AFRL, MD5, and AFWERX, are experiments to increase the efficiency, effectiveness, and transition rate of the SBIR program.
For the ‘Open’ Topic, led by AFWERX, companies with existing commercial products or services that may also be useful to the Air Force are invited to apply. Several barriers to working with the Air Force have been removed or mitigated for this program, to include a shorter application process, an accelerated contract award, and a shorter period of performance.
Chris Benson
Capability Lead, Special SBIR TopicsJoin Our Ecosystem
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Prospective Companies
For more information, please read the official solicitation as well as review this example Application Pitch Deck. Have questions about ownership stakes and VC involvement, then read more here. (Summary: You can and are encouraged to apply if you have received Venture Capital). You can also review this quick video series for tips and insights into the special SBIR topic produced by a company that has participated in the past
Phase II applicants
Companies applying to a Phase II SBIR should review the following document. Companies currently executing a Phase I SBIR should also review our19.1 Orientation Video.
Investors
If you are an investor or other government stakeholder interested in working with one of our awardees, please review our portfolio companies here. They may be eligible for 1:1 private investor matching or 4:1 government customer matching.
Resources
Special Topic One-Pager
This document contains an simple check-list of the steps to take to apply for the AFWERX open SBIR topic.
SBIR Phase I Proposal Walk-Through
This document provides a detailed, step-by-step guide for applying to a Phase I SBIR topic
Air Force Operator Needs
This document provides a sample of real Air Force end-user needs. If you find an end-user need in the document, feel free to reference it and the ‘Need ID’ in your AF191-005 SBIR Phase I application.
SBIR AF183 Special Topic Q&A session #1
If you have additional questions about the special SBIR topics, chances are they have already been asked and answers on one of the Q&A calls.
SBIR AF183 Special Topic Q&A session #2
If you have additional questions about the special SBIR topics, chances are they have already been asked and answers on one of the Q&A calls.
Events
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Apr19
SBIR 2019.2 Topic Pre-Release
Use this time to ask questions of the topic sponsor -
May20SBIR 2019.2 Applications OpenSubmit Proposal Online
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Jun19
SBIR 2019.2 Applications Close
Awarad annoucements by mid-July