Get to Know Us
WHO WE ARE
We make it easy for you to do business with the Army. Through competitive, awards-based programs, the Army Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs identify the top emerging technologies to meet critical Army priorities, modernizing our world-class Army and transitioning life-saving solutions into the hands of our Soldiers.
Who is Army SBIR?
The congressionally mandated Army SBIR Program fosters, encourages and strengthens the role of small businesses to meet Army research and development needs in the face of great-power competition.
The Army SBIR Program helps businesses overcome the inherent challenges to working in government research and development compared to their larger counterparts. We connect companies with Soldiers and Army technical and subject matter experts to talk shop—whether it’s about the latest tech or the challenges on the battlefield.
Who is Army STTR?
The Army STTR Program is a sister program to Army SBIR. While STTR is like Army SBIR in its partnership to integrate small businesses into the Army space, here, the small business partners with a university, federally-funded research and development center, or a qualified non-profit research institution as part of their contract.
The small business must also be the prime contractor and perform at least 40 percent of the work while the research partner performs at least 30 percent. The balance can be done by either party and/or a third party.
How Are Topics Released?
The Army releases topics a little differently, infusing both predictability and flexibility for Army and small business needs.
To respond to critical Army needs as they arise, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (ASA(ALT)) – the Army’s Chief Scientist – releases SBIR topics on a rolling basis on an always-open Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), which maximizes the initial cash-flow for companies while minimizing the time to contract.
The Army Futures Command (AFC) SBIR and STTR Programs develop a set of research topics that represent the Army’s current and anticipated warfighting technology needs and release topics during three specific solicitation periods throughout the fiscal year. View our Schedule page to learn more.
Technology Areas: What Interests You?
Have we piqued your interest, and are you ready to explore the open topics? We are looking for the most innovative solutions in the following technology ecosystems.
- Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (supply chain management, logistics coordination, target identifications and simulation)
- Advanced Materials and Manufacturing (additive manufacturing)
- Autonomy (unmanned systems, drones, ground vehicle capabilities)
- Chemical and Biological (detection, defense)
- Cyber (biometric authentication, secure communications)
- Electronics (microelectronics, Very-Large-Scale Integration (VLSI))
- Electronic Warfare (jamming, spoofing)
- Human Performance (wearables)
- Immersive (augmented reality, virtual reality, mixed reality)
- Network Technologies (antennas, radio frequency, communications systems)