Notice Number:
- PAR-27-040: Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs (Parent R41/R42 Clinical Trial Optional)- Forecasted
- PAR-27-039: Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs (Parent R43/R44 Clinical Trial Optional)- Forecasted
The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) has not yet been posted. Please check back.
View a recording of the informational webinar.
The Small Business Transition Grant is intended to support the development of early-career scientists as entrepreneurial Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PDs/PIs). A major component of this NOFO is the inclusion of entrepreneurial training, mentoring, and career development opportunities for the PD/PI.
The PD/PI should be an early-career scientist transitioning to entrepreneurship who is a first time PI and has not independently led significant research programs. Eligible applicants are invited to submit an SBIR (R43/R44) or STTR (R41/R42) Phase I or Fast-Track application. Applications should include a mentor who will commit measurable efforts to the successful technical and commercial completion of the project
The NCI SBIR transition grant proposes a new and unique Fast Track-only award structure made up of a Phase I STTR that transitions to a Phase II SBIR. Awards made under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will begin as a Phase I STTR to allow the candidate to complete proof of concept studies at the academic site and prepare the technology to move into the small business. After completion of the STTR Phase I activities, the transition to a Phase II SBIR award will occur only after meeting stringent criteria, including a demonstration of ongoing mentoring as well as having achieved technical milestones, including completion of the NIH I-Corps program. Note that small pivots in the project plan are allowed under Phase II SBIR funding. See Section V of the solicitation for more information. As of this year’s Notice (RFA-CA-24-023), the Small Business Transition Grant has also expanded to include a Phase I STTR-only option.
Mentoring Requirement
A key component of the small business transition grant is mentoring. Mentoring is not traditionally a factor in SBIR/STTR funding decisions; however, for this grant, mentoring is critical to facilitate the transition from junior academic scientist to entrepreneur. Therefore, the mentoring team who supports the candidate will be a critical factor in peer review. The ideal candidate for this small business transition grant is a postdoctoral researcher who participated in technology discovery during their academic work and is now ready to move to a small business with the help of some key mentors and advisors.