STTR provides funding for early-stage R&D funding directly to small companies working cooperatively with researchers at universities and other research institutions. Five federal agencies reserve a portion of their R&D funds to be awarded through the program.  

Small businesses must meet certain eligibility criteria to participate in the STTR Program:

• American-owned and independently operated
• For-profit
• Principal researcher need not be employed by small business
• Company size limited to 500 employees

Administered by the National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense." With an annual budget of about $5.92 billion, NSF is the funding source for approximately 20 percent of all federally supported basic research conducted by America's colleges and universities. In many fields such as mathematics, computer science and the social sciences, NSF is the major source of federal backing.

For more information, visit www.nsf.gov.