Q&A With Grady
Question: Can a foreign-owned company participate in SBIR or STTR?
Answer: Foreign-owned companies can participate in a limited way. While they will not qualify as a prime awardee, a foreign-owned company may subcontract or receive subawards. The only catch: all the research work must be performed inside the US. That said, a foreign-owned SBIR awardee could receive up to half of the work in a SBIR Phase II. In 2022, Australian company DroneShield Ltd (through its U.S. subsidiary DroneShield LLC) successfully participated in a U.S. Department of Defense SBIR Phase I project administered by SOFWERX by teaming with U.S. company Quantum Research International, which served as the prime/lead while DroneShield provided supporting technical work on machine-learning algorithms for tracking and identifying UAS threats. This demonstrated how a foreign company can contribute as a subcontractor or teammate when a qualifying U.S. business holds the prime award and the research stays within the SBIR rules. Know the rules, leverage them courageously, and always keep it dual-use research. https://www.sbir.gov/portfolio/1190795
For more information, visit https://www.sbir.gov/tutorials/program-basics/tutorial-2.
Small Business Innovation & Research (SBIR) funding is available to small businesses working on cutting edge technology. Your Washington APEX Accelerator SBIR Program can provide assistance with DOD, DOT, NASA and Department of Homeland Security.
September 30th 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Lacey Maker Space, Lacey, WA – Hybrid
Get clear, practical answers in plain English at our monthly hybrid event. Fast-track your federal funding journey.
Other Important Links
Researchers Battling Agricultural Pests – USDA-NIFA-supported researchers nationwide are developing new tools to manage both long-established insect pests and emerging threats such as pasture mealybugs and the returning New World screwworm that endanger U.S. crops and livestock. More information
ERDCWERX has launched ERDCsolutions.org, a new centralized resource that connects industry, academia, and government organizations with the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s (ERDC) extensive expertise, facilities, and specialized capabilities. The site makes it easier for potential partners to explore ERDC strengths like materials testing, Arctic infrastructure, contingency basing, and extreme-condition evaluation. Submit inquiries, and pursue collaboration pathways including CRADAs, Testing Service Agreements, and interagency agreements. More information
MTIP closes its summer Navigating SBIR series with four expert workshops focused on turning awards into revenue: Randy Simpson on Phase III business at DoD/DoW (Sept 9), Jim Greenwood on the business side of SBIR and commercialization plans (Sept 10 & 17), and Ed Kase on leveraging TABA funds (Sept 23). All are designed to help applicants and awardees build practical commercialization pathways. More information
SBIR/STTR Fall Innovation Conference – America’s Seed Fund returns to the Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center in National Harborr, MD, September 22–24, 2026, for panels, keynotes, the SBIR Pavilion, and direct meetings with federal program managers. Use code 26SBIR20 for 20% off “SBIR/STTR Program Only” registration. More information
U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity has launched the $500,000 two-phase STEP Prize to help innovators tackle manufacturing and supply chain challenges in stationary and grid-scale energy storage, with Phase 1 awards of up to $20,000 for Champions and $10,000 for Finalists and submissions closing October 8, 2026. More information
Nominations are now open for the 2027 Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) Awards, the highest honor in federal technology transfer, with submissions due October 16. Federal labs and agencies can apply for a chance to be recognized on stage at the 2027 National Meeting in Chicago. More information
Innovation for Impact: A National Security Technology Transfer Forum – FLC: Limited exclusive Industry Partner opportunities are available for organizations seeking high-profile visibility and connections with leaders across the national security innovation ecosystem. More information
Critical Suppliers Prize Competition – SBA is offering up to $20 million in targeted and mission-aligned prize awards that will bring innovation to our manufacturing base and rapidly expand production capacity in areas identified as critical supply chain chokepoints. More information
DARPA Lift Challenge concluded August 9, 2026, in Dayton, Ohio, as teams raced to build lightweight drones capable of lifting more than four times their weight. AVIDrone, Inc. posted the top scored ratio of 3.84:1 (29-lb aircraft lifting 112 lb) to claim the lead share of a $6.5 million purse, advancing heavy-lift UAS technology even though the official 4:1 goal went unmet in scored runs.More information
Mizzou Researchers Discover Natural Replacement for Artificial Food Dyes – University of Missouri researchers are studying a purple corn variety rich in anthocyanins (natural pigments with antioxidant benefits) as a potential replacement for petroleum‑based, artificial food dyes. More information
Accelerating Safe Clinical Evaluation of Novel Treatments: Ibogaine for Better Outcomes in Opioid Use Disorder – ARPA-H Launches ASCENT-IBO: Ibogaine shows early promise against opioid use disorder, but no federally authorized U.S. clinical trials exist yet. ARPA-H’s ASCENT-IBO aims to change that. More information
VA has begun the PIVOT clinical trial to evaluate psilocybin for Veterans with major depression (with or without PTSD), including a site at VA Puget Sound in Seattle. More information
DARPA launches the ERIS Marketplace, a rapid-acquisition platform that lets government buyers quickly view, negotiate, and award Other Transaction Authority contracts for disruptive technologies assessed through streamlined competition. Companies submit concise 7-minute video pitches aligned to DARPA topic areas, enabling faster pathways from novel solutions to national-security mission needs. More information
NASA SBIR Ignite and BMNT are hosting a free virtual Tech Spotlight Series that puts NASA, founders, investors, and industry in the same room around real technology challenges. Join any of the first three sessions that fit your work: pLEO (Sept 1), Space Nuclear (Sept 2), and Drone Supply Chain (Sept 2); More information
The Defense Tech Jam is coming to Seattle! September 18–20 This 48-hour innovation challenge connects the region’s world-class gaming and technology communities with defense partners to rapidly prototype solutions that address real-world training, simulation, and operational needs. Whether you’re a developer, designer, founder, or defense innovator, it’s an opportunity to collaborate, build, and help shape the future of national defense. Registration: https://luma.com/j209y5qt
