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SBIR/STTR reauthorized through 2031, adding a $30M breakthrough track

SBIR/STTR reauthorized through 2031, adding a $30M breakthrough track

The Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act of 2026, signed Apr 13, 2026, reauthorized the SBIR and STTR programs through Sept 30, 2031 after a six-month lapse that had frozen roughly $4B in annual funding across 11 agencies. It adds a new Phase II 'strategic breakthrough' vehicle with a $30M ceiling, mandatory foreign-risk screening, and per-company proposal caps starting in FY2027.

Why this matters for founders

Deep-tech founders can resume SBIR/STTR planning with five years of stability; prepare for new foreign-investor screening and note the larger Phase II breakthrough awards when scoping proposals.

Source: U.S. Small Business Administration

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