Node A6 · Acronym decoder
SBIR
Small Business Innovation Research
What it actually means
The congressionally mandated program reserving a slice of federal R&D budgets for small businesses, phased from feasibility (Phase I) through prototype (Phase II) toward commercialization (Phase III — which can be sole-sourced, a fact that drives much strategy). For deep-tech startups, it's non-dilutive funding; for the government, a scouting mechanism.
Where you'll meet it
Small business R&D funding; every defense-tech startup's early revenue line.