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NCI SBIR/STTR Training and Entrepreneurship Program

Melissa Li, Ph.D.

Contact Melissa Li to learn more about this program.

Submission Portal closes Friday, March 28, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET

Submit your application on the Application Portal. 

View a recording of the informational webinar.

 

The NCI SBIR/STTR Training and Entrepreneurship Program (STEP) helps small businesses apply for Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/ Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) funding. This 16-week program will provide structured training, and customized assistance within two stages:

  • In Stage 1, participants will receive guidance and instruction in entrepreneurship, value proposition hypothesis testing, and customer discovery.
  • In Stage 2, participants will receive guidance and feedback on registration procedures and assistance with timelines, grant writing techniques, budget calculation, and other items to enable participants to ultimately submit NIH SBIR/STTR proposals that are deemed complete, compliant, competitive, and responsive to all review criteria. 

After successfully completing the two stages, participating small businesses will receive post-submission support services to aid in tasks such as evaluating summary statements, consulting with an NCI Program Director, and preparing for resubmission. 

STEP provides support and guidance to small businesses at no cost. NOTE: The participating small businesses are responsible for putting together their application and required documentation.

 

Eligibility

To be considered for STEP, applicants must have a small business established in the US and have not received an NIH SBIR/STTR award in the last 10 years. Participants should have technologies that align with the major NCI SBIR/STTR research topics:

  • Therapeutics (e.g., Small Molecules, Biologics, Radiomodulators, and Cell-based Therapies)
  • InVitro and InVivo Diagnostics (e.g., Companion Diagnostics and Prognostic Technologies)
  • Imaging Technologies (e.g., Agents, Devices, and Image-Guided Interventions)
  • Devices for Cancer Therapy (e.g., Interventional Devices, Surgical, and
  • Radiation and Ablative Therapies, Hospital Devices)
  • Agents and Technologies for Cancer Prevention
  • Technologies for Cancer Control (e.g., Behavioral Health Interventions, Tools for Genetic, Epidemiologic, Behavioral, Social, and/or SurveillanceCancer Research)
  • Tools for Cancer Biology Research
  • Digital Health Tools and Software Platforms for Cancer-Related Technologies

Further information on eligibility can be found on the application portal webpage.

 

  • Updated:

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