The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC) has announced the consolidation of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs into OTC. They say the move brings the Department’s small business and technology commercialization efforts under one office to increase efficiency, strengthen commercialization pathways, improve the experience for American entrepreneurs, and ensure responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. This consolidation follows the Department’s renaming and reorganization of the Office of Technology Commercialization in November 2025 to better align the DOE’s commercialization activities under a single, accountable structure.
The redesigned SBIR/STTR programs advance the Trump Administration’s goal of accelerating the commercialization of new technologies and strengthening engagement between innovators and DOE’s National Laboratories.
“By consolidating the SBIR and STTR programs within the OTC, we’re able to deliver better support for small business for a fraction of the cost.” said DOE Chief Commercialization Officer and OTC Director Anthony Pugliese. “We are making it far easier for small businesses to apply and to work with the Department of Energy by streamlining application and review periods.”
SBIR and STTR play a vital role in advancing high-impact research and economic development through non-dilutive funding for American small businesses. For the first time, the programs will leverage new funding mechanisms and partnerships, including the Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation and DOE’s Partnership Intermediaries, to increase speed and expand access.
This realignment supports the Genesis Mission — President Trump’s historic national effort to unleash AI-accelerated innovation and double U.S. scientific productivity within a decade. Future SBIR/STTR topics will address national challenges in advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, critical materials, quantum information science, semiconductors, energy innovation, and more.
Program updates will be available through the OTC SBIR/STTR webpage and newsletter.
The original announcement can be found here.
