Active Government Funding Opportunities

The Missile Defense Agency is seeking miniaturized photonic and quantum technologies to enhance radar and communication systems with improved resilience and performance. Proposals should demonstrate low-power transceiver designs that integrate into modern sensor platforms while advancing common building block technologies for software-defined radios.

T3CP seeks innovative commercialization of government-funded patents across microelectronics, advanced materials, energetics, munitions, critical minerals, and biomanufacturing sectors. Proposals should develop prototype products with clear commercial relevance and credible dual-use transition pathways, excluding incremental improvements without viable market applications.

This SBIR topic seeks next-generation thermal batteries with improved energy density, power output, and miniaturization for missile defense interceptor systems. Enhanced batteries would simplify power architecture, reduce weight, and boost system performance compared to current multi-battery solutions used in platforms like the SM-3.

This RFP seeks development of affordable infrared lens technology using salt-based optical materials to reduce thermal camera costs for unmanned drone systems. The challenge is engineering moisture-resistant coatings for these naturally hygroscopic materials to enable field deployment while maintaining cost advantages over traditional military infrared optics.

This RFP seeks a room-temperature photon-number-resolution sensor array capable of detecting multiple simultaneous photons at GHz rates with megapixel scalability. The technology addresses quantum imaging and environmental sensing applications requiring precise photon counting while processing extreme data rates without loss.

This RFP seeks development of an Asymmetric Spatial Heterodyne interferometer spectrometer that simultaneously achieves large light-gathering capacity and ultra-high spectral resolution—solving a critical instrumentation gap for quantum communication systems, quantum sensing, and advanced remote sensing applications operating across 400–1600 nm wavelengths.

This RFP seeks advanced packaging techniques to combine high-performance commercial microelectronics with radiation-hardening capabilities, enabling Department of War and space systems to operate reliably in radiation-intensive environments while maintaining cutting-edge processing performance.

This RFP seeks compact, high-speed nanophotonic spatial light modulators to enable advanced wavefront control for adaptive optics applications. Current technologies like liquid crystal and MEMS devices are limited by slow response times, hindering adoption of LiDAR, free-space communications, and quantum sensing systems.

The Missile Defense Agency seeks to leverage existing power infrastructure with Very Large Array (VLA) technology to detect anomalies from unknown sources. This approach adds resilient detection layers to strengthen the Missile Defense System's overall capability.

The Army seeks autonomous and minimally-manned ground and aerial systems for sustainment and recovery in contested environments where GPS and communications are degraded. Solutions must operate with minimal oversight across payload transport, power generation, refueling, and vehicle recovery to reduce soldier exposure and maintain mission continuity.

NASA Civilian Commercialization Readiness Pilot Program (CCRPP) 2026 for accelerating SBIR/STTR technologies to commercialization with NASA matching funds of $500K-$2.5M per award for Phase II companies.

This RFP seeks biomanufactured thermal interface materials (TIMs) to improve heat dissipation in high-density electronics, drones, and battery systems. The solution must balance thermal conductivity with electrical insulation while offering cost-effective, sustainable alternatives to traditional materials.

This RFP seeks a computational system using protein language models to rapidly characterize pathogen-host interactions from sequence data alone, enabling faster threat assessment and therapeutic response when novel pathogens emerge. The capability must predict protein interactions across pathogen classes, work on unseen pathogens, and deliver comprehensive analysis within one hour on standard hardware.

DARPA seeks development of high-energy-density, air-independent rechargeable batteries for military applications where oxygen is unavailable—such as underwater, high-altitude, or space operations. Proposals must demonstrate specific energy exceeding 1 kWh/kg with electrical rechargeability over multiple charge cycles.

This RFP seeks engineering solutions to enhance cognitive performance and physiological recovery in high-demand operational environments where sleep is restricted. The capability aims to address performance degradation caused by sleep deprivation by supporting critical brain functions like waste clearance and synaptic plasticity.

This SBIR XL seeks integrated manufacturing solutions for compact Rydberg-based RF receivers that operate across broad frequency bands with high sensitivity. The technology addresses the gap between laboratory prototypes and deployable systems by combining photonic components with low-latency control architecture for wideband signal processing.

The Navy seeks modernized automated ammunition handling systems for MK 45 gun systems to replace 1960s-era technology, improving reliability, firing rates, and crew safety while maintaining compatibility with existing shipboard platforms.

This RFP seeks development of a compact, high-efficiency CO₂ compressor for military aircraft thermal management systems. The technology must handle dynamic heat loads across diverse mission phases while reducing system weight and size compared to legacy refrigerant solutions.

This RFP seeks development of a complementary flush air data system (FADS) for Air Force bombers to provide redundant, low-observable airspeed and altitude measurement, reducing reliance on vulnerable protruding pitot probes. The modular, subsonic/transonic-optimized system will enhance survivability and data assurance in contested environments while maintaining existing flight-control architectures.

This RFP seeks development and validation of Maxterial H-max nickel molybdenum plating as an environmentally safe alternative to hexavalent chromium in aerospace components like landing gear actuators. The solution must demonstrate fatigue resistance, durability, and corrosion protection while supporting DoD regulatory compliance and modernization goals.

This RFP seeks development of autonomous fall detection and mitigation systems for humanoid robots operating in Air Force maintenance and hazardous environments. The solution must enable safe, graceful falls that minimize damage and injury risk while maintaining robot agility and performance during normal operations.

The Navy seeks inter-satellite communication hardware to enable direct data sharing between commercial satellites, eliminating ground-station handoffs for improved tracking of mobile ocean targets and reducing latency in multi-satellite coordination.

DARPA seeks medical technologies designed to work interoperably across both humans and military working dogs, reducing equipment burden on combat medics. Priority innovations include species-compatible plasma products, adjustable medical devices, physiological sensors, and pharmaceuticals that eliminate the need for separate canine-specific supplies.

xTech|Inversion seeks innovative technology solutions that accelerate military capability advancement and address complex national security challenges. The competition focuses on transitioning Army-funded research into scalable, commercially viable solutions through partnerships with non-traditional defense contractors.

The xTech|Phantum competition seeks innovative quantum sensors, quantum clocks, and photonic technologies to enhance Army position, navigation, timing, and communications capabilities while reducing dependence on GPS and improving performance in contested environments. Winners will be eligible to submit SBIR proposals under four specialized quantum and photonics topics.