For Small Businesses
The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) supports small businesses by providing funding opportunities for innovative health research and development projects. We offer access to expert guidance, technical resources, and connections with partners, investors, and collaborators to help bring transformative ideas to market.
Learn more about the capabilities and services available to all ARPA-H funded performers, including small businesses, which help accelerate the commercialization of products.
Small Business Award Opportunities
Our Small Business Program uses innovative funding mechanisms, featuring a streamlined application and review process compared to traditional pathways. Funding is available through Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) awards and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) awards. Awards are generally issued in the form of contracts of up to $600K for Phase 1 and $3.5M for Phase 2 awards and depend on meeting ambitious milestones, consistent with ARPA-H's model.
Upcoming Opportunity
Notice ID: 7599226SN106
ARPA-H invites interested parties to review the draft solicitation, which is posted and will be maintained on SAM.gov. We are posting this draft solicitation to help you prepare and plan in advance of the final solicitation, which will be the official funding opportunity announcement.
Open Topic Areas:
Proposals that address one or more of the following topics are currently being considered:
- Topic 1: Development of an annual test to inform women about their future fertility
- Topic 2: Versatile Bioadhesives
- Topic 3: Universal Platform for Living Adaptive Toxin-removal (UNI-PLAT)
- Topic 4: Breaking Ground: The First Curative, Non-Invasive, Long-Lasting Therapy for Endometriosis
- Topic 5: ARPA-H Lineage Topic
- Topic 6: Rapid Comprehensive Diagnostic Test for Multi-System Autoimmune Disease
- Topic 7: Virtual Human Brain for the Development of Neurosurgical Robotics
Key Dates:
Solution Summary Due: July 10, 2026 (11:59PM ET)
Applicants who are successful in the Solution Summary phase will be encouraged to pitch.
Technical Oral Presentation (Pitch), Cost Proposal, and Task Description Document Due: September 9, 2026 (11:59PM ET)
Reminder: Dates are estimates and subject to change. Please reference the solicitation for the most up-to-date information and proposal instructions.
Review Draft Solicitation Details
Interested in applying? This is an upcoming opportunity and not yet accepting applications. The ARPA-H Solutions site will open for applications after the final solicitation is posted. Target date: June 11, 2026.
Eligibility and applying
Who is eligible?
To be eligible for SBIR or STTR awards, proposers must:
- Be a small business with no more than 500 employees.
- Have majority ownership by U.S. Citizens or another U.S. based small business.
- Perform all work in the U.S.
For SBIR awards:
- The Primary Investigator (PI) must be >50% employed by the small business.
- For Phase I, >66% of the work must be performed by the small business.
- For Phase II, >50% of the work must be performed by the small business.
For STTR awards:
- The small business must have a Research Institution (RI) partner.
- The Primary Investigator (PI) must be >50% employed by the small business or RI.
- For Phase I and Phase II, >40% of the work must be performed by the small business and >30% of the work must be performed by the RI.
Frequently Asked Questions
Review responses to common questions about this funding opportunity asked by others in the proposer community.
You can also ask a question.
Proposers' Day
This is an optional event for the proposer community to learn more about this opportunity, ask questions, and make connections. This event is not intended for patients, patient advocates, the media, or general interest audiences.
Event date: June 11, 2026
Registration closes on June 9, 2026.
Event location: Virtual
To report fraud, visit the NIH SEED page.