The Senate earlier this March passed a reauthorization bill (S.3971), the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act, to extend the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs through 2031. The SBIR and STTR programs provide federal funding to small businesses and research institutions to support early-stage research and the commercialization of innovative technologies.
The bill has been placed on the House suspension calendar and is expected to be considered next week. Authorization for the programs lapsed September 2025, stalling their long-term reauthorization in Congress.