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sbir-ai-data-analytics-report.md

Current SBIR Grant Opportunities in AI and Data Analytics

April 2025

Executive Summary

This report provides a comprehensive overview of current Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant opportunities available for artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics technologies as of April 2025. It covers open solicitations across major federal agencies, key focus areas in AI and data analytics, application processes, and timelines. The report is intended to serve as a resource for small businesses seeking federal funding for AI and data analytics innovations.

Introduction

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs represent the largest source of early-stage research and development funding for small businesses in the United States. These programs enable small businesses to explore technological potential and provide the incentive to profit from commercialization opportunities. With increasing government interest in AI and data analytics technologies, numerous funding opportunities are available across various federal agencies.

This report focuses specifically on current SBIR/STTR opportunities in AI and data analytics, which includes machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, knowledge graphs, and related technologies.

Current SBIR Grant Opportunities by Agency

Department of Defense (DoD)

The Department of Defense continues to be a major source of SBIR/STTR funding for AI and data analytics technologies. Current opportunities include:

  1. "Exploring the ability to Enhance Scalability For Knowledge Graphs For Enterprise Solutions"

    • Status: Open until May 21, 2025
    • Program: STTR
    • Technology Areas: Trusted AI and Autonomy; Advanced Computing and Software
    • This topic focuses on developing scalable knowledge graph technologies for enterprise-level applications.

  2. "Exploring Resilient Supply Chain Autonomous Intelligence Assistant"

    • Status: Open until May 21, 2025
    • Program: STTR
    • Technology Areas: Trusted AI and Autonomy; Advanced Computing and Software
    • This opportunity focuses on AI systems that can enhance supply chain resilience through autonomous intelligence capabilities.

  3. "Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) Focused Open Topic" (Army)

    • Status: Open until March 31, 2025
    • Phase I: Up to $250,000 for 6-month period
    • Direct to Phase II: Up to $2,000,000 for 24-month period
    • This broad topic focuses on six AI sub-fields:
      • Synthetic data generation
      • Data validation and verification in contested environments
      • AI risk mitigation methodologies
      • Large Language Models (LLM) implementation
      • Retrieval augmented generation (RAG)
      • Collaborative AI technologies

DARPA SBIR/STTR Topics

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has released several SBIR/STTR topics focused on AI for FY2025, though many have recently closed for submissions:

  1. "Language Models for Veteran Suicide Prevention (LM4VSP)"

    • Objective: Develop a conversational AI clinical co-pilot based on language models to augment the ability of mental health care professionals
    • Status: Closed January 8, 2025

  2. Bias in AI Series (STTR 2025.D Topics)

    • Several topics focused on addressing bias in AI, including:
      • "Analyzing the Trade-off Between Bias and Accuracy"
      • "Mitigating Explicit and Implicit Bias Through Hybrid AI"
      • "Unlearning Bias"
      • "Bias Datasets for the Department of Defense"
      • "Model-Agnostic Detection of Bias (MAD-Bias)"
      • "Addressing Underrepresentation Through Data Augmentation"
    • Status: Closed March 12, 2025

National Science Foundation (NSF)

The NSF maintains ongoing SBIR/STTR programs with strong emphasis on artificial intelligence and data analytics technologies:

  1. NSF SBIR/STTR Artificial Intelligence Focus Areas

    • Status: Ongoing program with rolling submissions via Project Pitch process
    • Funding: Up to $2 million in seed funding
    • Key focus areas:
      • Cognitive Science-based Technologies
      • Computer Vision Based AI Technologies
      • Conversational AI Technologies
      • Language-Based AI Technologies
      • Novel AI Hardware Technologies
      • Sustainable AI Technologies for Low Resource Environments
      • Technologies for Trustworthy AI (safe, fair, transparent, privacy-preserving)

  2. Project Pitch Process

    • Project Pitch invitations issued between September 19, 2023 and June 21, 2024 have a one-year window to submit full proposals
    • Full Phase I SBIR/STTR proposals are required by the expiration date listed in the invitation email

  3. Other NSF AI-Related Opportunities

    • Smart Health and Biomedical Research in AI and Advanced Data Science (SCH)
      • Full Proposal Deadline: October 3, 2025
    • Mathematical Foundations of Artificial Intelligence (MFAI)
      • Supports research collaborations to establish innovative design and analysis approaches for AI technology

Department of Energy (DOE)

The Department of Energy has active SBIR/STTR opportunities with upcoming deadlines:

  1. SBIR/STTR Phase I Release 2

    • Status: Full applications due February 26, 2025
    • Award notification: Expected May 27, 2025
    • Grant start date: July 8, 2025

  2. SBIR/STTR Phase II Release 2

    • Status: Applications due May 6, 2025
    • Award notification: August 4, 2025
    • Grant start date: September 15, 2025

NASA

NASA regularly offers SBIR/STTR opportunities related to AI and data analytics:

  1. Current Status: Phase I Solicitation closed on March 10, 2025
  2. Upcoming: 2025 NASA SBIR Ignite Phase I Solicitation (opens Summer 2025)
  3. Previous Focus Areas: "Accelerating NASA Science and Engineering through the Application of Artificial Intelligence"

Focus Areas in AI & Data Analytics

Current SBIR/STTR opportunities across agencies demonstrate several key areas of focus in AI and data analytics technology development:

1. Knowledge Graphs and Enterprise Solutions

Knowledge graph technologies enable organizations to represent and connect complex data in ways that facilitate discovery and analysis. Current solicitations seek scalable enterprise solutions that can manage and derive insights from disparate data sources.

2. Autonomous and Intelligent Systems

Multiple opportunities focus on developing autonomous systems with AI capabilities, particularly for applications in supply chain management, defense, and healthcare.

3. Large Language Models and Applications

Several agencies, including DoD and DARPA, are funding research into practical applications of large language models, including conversational AI for healthcare, technical assistance, and data processing.

4. Bias Mitigation and Trustworthy AI

Ensuring AI systems are fair, transparent, and free from harmful biases is a major focus, particularly in DARPA's recent solicitations. These opportunities seek innovative approaches to detecting, measuring, and mitigating bias in AI systems.

5. Synthetic Data Generation

Generating high-quality synthetic data for AI training remains an important area, especially for applications where real-world data may be limited, sensitive, or difficult to obtain.

Application Process and Timeline

SBIR/STTR Program Phases

The SBIR/STTR programs operate in three main phases:

  1. Phase I: Concept Development

    • Purpose: Establish technical merit, feasibility, and commercial potential
    • Duration: 6-12 months
    • Funding: $50,000-$275,000
    • Deliverable: Proof-of-concept

  2. Phase II: Research & Development

    • Purpose: Continue R&D efforts initiated in Phase I
    • Duration: 24 months
    • Funding: $400,000-$1.8 million
    • Eligibility: Typically only Phase I awardees
    • Deliverable: Prototype or working system

  3. Phase III: Commercialization

    • Purpose: Move technology from lab to marketplace
    • Funding: No SBIR/STTR funding in this phase
    • Commercialization occurs through private sector investment or non-SBIR federal contracts

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for SBIR/STTR funding, a company must:

  • Be a for-profit entity located in the U.S.
  • Have fewer than 500 employees
  • Be owned and controlled by U.S. citizens or permanent residents

For STTR proposals, the small business must collaborate with a research institution (university, federal laboratory, or non-profit research organization).

Application Timeline

The application timeline varies by agency, but generally follows this process:

  1. Review solicitation and topics
  2. Register in required systems (SAM.gov, agency portals)
  3. Submit proposal by agency deadline
  4. Await review (typically 3-6 months)
  5. If awarded, begin project implementation

Conclusion

The current landscape of SBIR/STTR opportunities for AI and data analytics technologies is robust across multiple federal agencies. With the increasing importance of AI in national security, healthcare, energy, and space exploration, these funding opportunities represent significant potential for small businesses in the AI and data analytics space.

Key trends observed in current solicitations include a focus on trustworthy AI, knowledge graphs and enterprise solutions, large language model applications, and autonomous intelligent systems. Small businesses should consider these priority areas when developing their SBIR/STTR proposals.

While the application process can be complex, successful navigation of the SBIR/STTR programs can provide crucial non-dilutive funding for early-stage technology development, helping small businesses bridge the gap between concept and commercialization.

References

  1. SBIR.gov. (2025). Funding Opportunities. Retrieved April 2025, from https://www.sbir.gov/topics

  2. SBIR.gov. (2025). Apply. Retrieved April 2025, from https://www.sbir.gov/apply

  3. DARPA. (2025). SBIR/STTR FY25 Topic Opportunities. Retrieved April 2025, from https://www.darpa.mil/work-with-us/communities/small-business/fy25-topics

  4. National Science Foundation. (2025). Artificial Intelligence Grant – Apply Today. Retrieved April 2025, from https://seedfund.nsf.gov/topics/artificial-intelligence/

  5. Department of Energy Office of Science. (2025). SBIR Funding Opportunity Announcements. Retrieved April 2025, from https://science.osti.gov/sbir/Funding-Opportunities

  6. NASA. (2025). SBIR/STTR Phase I. Retrieved April 2025, from https://www.nasa.gov/sbir_sttr/phase-i/

  7. U.S. Department of Transportation. (2025). SBIR Funding Opportunities. Retrieved April 2025, from https://www.volpe.dot.gov/work-with-us/small-business-innovation-research/solicitations

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