Science & Research Grants for Small businesses

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

Eligibility is unrestricted (open to any entity type, subject to NSF clarifications), but this National Science Foundation program funds crosscutting materials-research activities such as diversity and inclusion efforts, international cooperation, education, workshops, summer schools, and conferences rather than traditional research projects. Award amounts and deadlines are not specified, and program directors recommend contacting them before submitting any full proposal exceeding $50,000. Foreign organizations face the usual NSF limitations, so most awards go to U.S. institutions.

Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command · Amount varies

This Army Research Laboratory special notice (under BAA W911NF-17-S-0003) seeks proposals to design, manufacture, and deliver a low-cost, battery-powered chip-scale atomic clock targeting under $300 per unit at volume for defense timing applications. Eligibility is restricted to for-profit firms (a consortium led by a for-profit firm is also encouraged), so nonprofits, universities as primes, and individuals are not the intended applicants. Funding is via a technology investment agreement; no specific award amount or deadline is listed, and applicants should review the full special notice.

Air Force Academy · Up to $99M

The U.S. Air Force Academy uses this Broad Agency Announcement to fund research that supports cadet learning, faculty development, and Air Force mission needs across diverse fields such as hypersonics, cybersecurity, spatial disorientation, athletic performance, and homeland defense. It is open to non-government firms and partners (universities, businesses, and other non-federal entities); federal agencies are not eligible and should pursue internal government channels instead. The stated award range is very broad (from $0 up to about $99 million), so funding varies widely by project, and applicants typically begin by submitting a white paper.

NASA Headquarters · Amount varies

NASA's umbrella SpaceTech-REDDI-2026 announcement funds space technology research, development, demonstration, and infusion, with specific topics released as appendices throughout the year. Participation is broad — educational, industry, and nonprofit institutions, FFRDCs, UARCs, and other entities — and includes U.S. and, to the extent practicable, non-U.S. organizations, but NASA Centers, NASA civil servants, and JPL cannot receive awards. Each appendix may add its own eligibility limits and deadlines, so applicants must check the individual topic solicitation on NSPIRES.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The NSF Thermal Transport Processes program funds fundamental engineering research on thermal transport phenomena (heat and mass transfer, convection/diffusion/radiation, phonon transport, and related thermodynamics). Eligibility is unrestricted in type of entity, but in practice NSF research awards go to universities, research institutions, and qualifying organizations and businesses submitting strong research proposals. Specific award amounts and deadlines are not stated in this listing; confirm current deadlines on the NSF program page before applying.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

Eligibility is unrestricted and open to any type of entity (subject to any clarifications in the program's eligibility text), making this NSF program broadly available. The Accountable Institutions and Behavior (AIB) Program funds theoretically grounded, methodologically rigorous basic social-science research on attitudes, behavior, and institutions related to public policy and public services, and also supports undergraduate research experiences and methodological infrastructure. Note that the program does not fund applied research, so proposals must be basic-science oriented.