NIH is very active with multiple topics and solicitationsm and the second largest SBIR/STTR budget. We’ve included or excerpted resources that we’ve created, identified or that NIH is actively publishing to help you with your NIH proposal. Below is a capture of the 2026-27 deadlines for NIH. Also remember that you can choose SBIR, STTR or Fast Track. And the new CRP program (commercialization readiness program) is for SBIR/STTR recipients!
If you submitted an NIH Phase I proposal Sept 2025, you may be getting a JIT request from NIH – be sure to be prepared. See our posts on what the JIT requirements look like and see details on accounting systems, foreign disclosure and Cyber Security.
You can see more NIH JIT details on on the Foreign Disclosure and CyberSecurity questionniare page and also on the Accounting System questionnaire page.
NIH has been very active after re-authorization publishing a lot of webinars and training events to try and get everyone back up to speed. We’ve listed them below but, except for the overview below, each video or collection of videos is on it’s own page to make things more accessible.
NIH SEED Small Business 101: America’s Seed Fund is Back – June 2026
Here’s a brand new overview of the NIH SBIR/STTR program published June 2026. NIH Small Business 101 is designed to help small businesses prepare for the next chapter of the small business program (SBIR/STTR). Learn how to navigate new opportunities and policy changes.
The NIH provided both the slides from the webinar and a Webinar Transcript for your reference.
NIH has several upcoming events and we’ll add these as soon as they are available.
NIH Small Business 101: Building Your Budget – July 14, 2026
This NIH Budget Page includes an NIH webinar and related helps to assist you as you prepare your NIH budget. It also includes some additional tips from ESO colleagues of ours. Related to your Budget is your accounting system and with the 2026 re-authorization, the bar on accounting systems has also been raised! NIH Phase I Accounting System Requirements discusses these changes and shows you what you are required to attest to if you are close to funding.
NIH Small Business 101: Managing Your SBIR/STTR Award Effectively – July 28, 2026
What if you receive an award? Tips to help you manage it effectively and avoid pitfalls!
NIH Small Business 101: Managing Foreign Risk – August 18, 2026
Well, the Foreign Risk issue is BIG and really important. Failing this can sink your funding. Watch this video and also visit our discussion What to Expect with NIH JIT (National Institutes of Health – Just in Time) for SBIR/STTR. Related to Foreign Risk (in the same questionnaire) is a much higher level of Cybersecurity requirements than non-DoD agencies have seen before. Be Prepared! New NIH CyberSecurity Questions during JIT Document Requests
For the latest videos from America’s Seed Fund Summit (July 2026) and America’s Seed Fund Week, visit our post SBIR/STTR Solicitations from NSF, NIH and DoW – a lot of specific help!
Inside the Head of an SBIR/STTR Reviewer (multi-agency)
Once you’ve submitted your SBIR or STTR proposal, it seems like it goes into a black box. This is not true! However, it does enter a fairly complex mult-step process. This page incldues two panel discussions about the SBIR STTR evaluation / review process . The first panel is from 2026 and the earlier panel, from 2023 is still helpful! The review function changes by degrees, but the core tenets stay the same! Both include multiple agencies and are very helpful to understand what happens “behind the scenes.
For insights into the latest NSF solicitations and process, visit our NSF SBIR/STTR Page.
Details on the Department of Energy updated SBIR/STTR Program are found on our DOE SBIR/STTR Page.
If you want advice and support as you build out your team, check out our StartupTherapy™ Resources and Help page!
Designer Investor Resources – Fundamentals of Raising Startup Capital is another summary page of great resources to help you if you are raising capital from investors.
Don’t forget, if you need more help, check out our online course, Develop a Winning SBIR Strategy, and don’t forget your free guide below! It is truly unique in the industry, make sure to grab your copy!
Interested in creating an SBIR proposal?
Click to Get our free guide “40 Ways to Improve your SBIR/STTR proposal!
