Verified open September 11, 2026. The Nebraska Department of Economic Development is accepting applications for its Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Grant Program for the current fiscal-year cycle.
Funding
DED may award up to $6 million per year across the program, subject to demand, department budget and available funds. Phase 0 can reimburse up to $5,000 per project for costs incurred preparing a federal Phase I proposal. Phase I can match a successful federal SBIR/STTR award up to $150,000 or 65% of the federal award, whichever is less. Phase II can match a successful federal award up to $300,000 or 65% of the federal award, whichever is less.
Eligibility
Applicants must satisfy federal SBIR/STTR qualification requirements and be a for-profit small business that conducts at least 51% of the activities proposed under the federal application in Nebraska. Phase I and Phase II state matching awards depend on a successful federal award.
Deadline
The current Phase 0, Phase I and Phase II application windows opened July 7, 2026 and close June 30, 2027 at 11:55 PM CDT. DED also states applications are accepted through the fiscal year or until funds are exhausted, so applicants should not assume funding will remain available through the posted close.
Atlas Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 90/100. N9+ Fit Score: 88/100 conditional. This is a strong healthcare-technology R&D and commercialization funding pathway when the applicant has a legitimate federal SBIR/STTR project. It is not a general product-purchase or sales subsidy. Dr. Miltie direct eligibility is not yet verified: accessible company records do not establish that Dr. Miltie satisfies the Nebraska 51%-of-project-activities requirement or, for Phase I/II, has the required qualifying federal award. Those facts must be verified before any direct application is advanced.
Current Action
Confirm the applicant’s federal SBIR/STTR eligibility, Nebraska activity percentage and relevant federal application or award. For a Dr. Miltie pursuit, advance only a genuine N9+ technical R&D/commercialization project and do not infer Nebraska eligibility from product fit alone.