Forecast to Publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity for Small Business Transition Grant For Early Career Scientists (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for early-career academic scientists transitioning to entrepreneurship and small businesses seeking to commercialize technology from academic labs. Eligible applicants include small businesses (SBIR/STTR certified), universities, and collaborative teams combining academic researchers with entrepreneurs. The program supports early-stage technology development and entrepreneurial mentoring. Projects must involve innovation that can move from academic discovery into commercial products and services.
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Key dates
- Jun 16, 2025 Applications open
- Oct 30, 2025 Application deadline
- Jul 1, 2026 Award announced
- Jul 1, 2026 Project start
Program description
The National Cancer Institute (NCI), with National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to support early-career academic scientists interested in transitioning to entrepreneurship while also supporting the transfer of technology from academic laboratories into small businesses. Both small businesses and universities are drivers of technological innovation in the United States (U.S.), often working together to advance innovative ideas into products that can benefit the U.S. population. While most NIH funding supports basic research in university laboratories, the NIH also supports innovative technology development in U.S. small businesses through its SBIR and STTR programs. As technologies transition from academic discovery to small businesses, two common challenges arise, identifying the right team with the right expertise to take the product into a small business, and funding for early-stage technology development. This NOFO seeks to address both challenges simultaneously by having two equally important goals: entrepreneurial mentoring support, and product development support.
Applications are not being solicited at this time. Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects. This NOFO will utilize the R41/R42 activity code. The NOFO is expected to be published in Summer 2025 with an anticipated application due date in Fall 2025.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- R&R SF 424 (R&R) Application for Federal Assistance
- Project Narrative (research plan)
- Budget and budget justification
- Biographical sketches of all senior/key personnel
- Current and pending support documents
- Letters of support from academic and small business partners
- Technology description and commercialization plan
Program contact
- 👤 Saroj Regmi, Ph.D. National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- 📧 saroj.regmi@nih.gov
- 📞 240-276-7289
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.394 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$67,679,289
-
$42,479,238
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$38,139,324
-
$37,552,767
-
$36,939,788
-
$35,037,695
-
$30,393,940
-
$30,179,102
-
$18,390,244
-
$18,143,614
Top States by Funding
- PA 10 awards $135.7M
- WA 7 awards $122.3M
- CA 12 awards $108.0M
- TX 8 awards $92.9M
- OH 5 awards $73.2M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.394). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $540,918,671 | |
| 2025 | $602,293,691 | |
| 2026 est. | $716,748,079 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Early-career academic scientists, small businesses, and university-small business collaborations. Both partners are equally important to the application.
When is the deadline?
The NOFO will be published in Summer 2025 with an application deadline expected in Fall 2025 (forecasted October 30, 2025).
What types of projects are supported?
Technology transfer from academic laboratories to small businesses. Emphasis on products, devices, or innovations with commercial potential.
Is cost-sharing required?
No cost-sharing is required for this grant opportunity.
How competitive is this funding?
This is a specialized program targeting a specific transition pathway, so competition may be moderate. Strong emphasis on feasible commercialization plans and qualified teams.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start building your academic-industry team now. NIH values established collaborations with clear roles between university researchers and business partners.
- Document your technology's innovation and commercial potential early. Prepare market analysis and competitive landscape research before application.
- Use the entrepreneurial mentoring component strategically. Show how mentoring will strengthen your team's business acumen and product development skills.
- Align your project with NCI, NHGRI, or NIBIB research priorities. Review recent portfolio data from these institutes to ensure fit.
- Develop a realistic timeline from academic prototype to market-ready product. NIH expects concrete milestones and feasible commercialization pathways.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Treating the mentoring and product development goals as separate rather than integrated. Underestimating the business expertise needed; academic research skills alone won't be sufficient. Proposing technologies without clear commercial pathway or unproven market demand.
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