Public grant program match

SBIR and STTR are US federal programs that fund research and development at small businesses through agencies such as NSF, NIH, DOE and the Department of Defense. Awards usually start with a Phase I feasibility award and can continue to a larger Phase II for further development, and they are non-dilutive: the government takes no equity. STTR requires a formal partnership with a research institution. Congress reauthorized both programs in April 2026 through September 2031, after a lapse that began in October 2025.

Start with the national portals for your country or region: in the US, the SBIR and STTR topics on SBIR.gov and agency solicitations, plus Grants.gov; in the EU, the Funding and Tenders portal, the EIC and national innovation agencies. Then check state, regional and city programs, which are often less competitive. Match on eligibility first, such as company size, ownership, location and stage, then on topic fit. A grants expert or someone who has won in your field can save weeks of searching.

For research-heavy companies, often yes. Grants are non-dilutive, can fund technical risk that investors avoid, and a win signals credibility to later investors. The costs are the time to write proposals, long review cycles, reporting and restrictions on how money is spent. They fit best when the funded work is on your critical path anyway. For a software startup without a research angle, the time is usually better spent on customers and investors.

The best-known EU program is the EIC Accelerator, which combines grants below 2.5 million euros with optional equity investments for deep-tech startups and SMEs. In 2026 it moved to evaluations every two months and shorter applications. Horizon Europe funds collaborative research, and many countries run their own innovation agencies and regional programs with lower competition. Eligibility, co-financing requirements and timelines vary a lot, so check the specific call before investing time in a proposal.