SBIR Archives

Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Emil Michael and Assistant Secretary of War for Science and Technology Dr. Joseph S. Jewell take questions from the press. following the Department of Defense Lab Day at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., May 05, 2026. (DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Carson Croom)

Pentagon’s S&T boss touts early benefits of re-org, including ‘virtuous cycles of collaboration’

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology Joseph Jewell briefed DefenseScoop on the DOD’s new structure to enable innovation.

Aug 12, 2026 By Brandi Vincent

Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Emil Michael and Director, Department of Defense, Administrator Kelly Loeffler (Small Business Administration) attend a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency event at DARPA Headquarters, Arlington, Va., April 29, 2026. (DoW photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Milton Hamilton)

‘America’s seed fund’ is being revamped for modern warfare

Senior U.S. officials shed new light on their plans for the SBIR/STTR programs after a funding lapse and major reauthorization.

Apr 29, 2026 By Brandi Vincent

SBIR Mills are draining America’s innovation fund

Needed changes to the SBIR program by the INNOVATE Act can help seed growth of key emerging tech companies and move away from subsidizing permanent research houses…

Sep 8, 2025 By David Rothzeid

Pennsylvania Ave going towards US Capitol in Washington DC. (Getty Images)

Modernize SBIR and STTR to fuel America’s innovators

The SBIR and STTR programs must evolve to keep pace and drive improved results.

Aug 22, 2025 By David Rothzeid Zach Beecher

Base Operations screenshot showing threat intelligence and AI-powered predictive analytics around Joint Base Andrews in Prince George’s County, Maryland. (Source: Base Operations)

Air Mobility Command enlists AI to better spot and track threats to military bases

A startup called Base Operations was recently awarded a Direct-to-Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract for the new tool.

Jun 2, 2025 By Brandi Vincent

Air Force invests in new nuclear effects testing prototypes

The Air Force has tapped California-based fusion power startup Fuse Energy Technologies to deliver nuclear effects testing capabilities, DefenseScoop has learned.

Feb 28, 2024 By Brandi Vincent

Air Force wants small businesses’ help with command and control for large numbers of autonomous systems

Via a new small business innovation research opportunity, the Air Force aims to prototype novel capabilities associated with surveillance, communications and delivery.

Feb 6, 2023 By Brandi Vincent