The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program works in conjunction with the Small Business Administration (SBA) to offer various grants to small businesses working on valuable, marketable research. If you have an innovative technological idea, developmental project, or cutting-edge approach to a service, this grant could supply your company with as much as $260,000 just in the research and development phase of your business. If you prove that your idea is commercially viable, that amount can increase to over $1 million over the course of a two-year disbursement.
Eligibility requirements for these grants are a bit more complex, as they are offered by multiple governmental entities and awards are ongoing throughout the calendar year. However, all grant winners must be able to prove that their businesses are:
- Comprised of 500 or fewer employees
- At least 50% owned by a United States citizen
- Operating for profit
Although not exclusively offered to women, these grants encourage women to apply and have assisted numerous female-led businesses in achieving their research goals.
Source: https://www.zenbusiness.com/grants-women-owned-business/