Small Business Innovation Research & Small Business Technology Transfer
Abstract
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program implements 15 U.S.C Section 638 to maximize the creative, innovative, and entrepreneurial spirit of small businesses to solve technological problems. AFWERX's mission is to accelerate agile and affordable capability transitions by teaming leaders in innovative technology with Airmen and Guardian talent. The DAF SBIR/STTR program implements three different approaches to provide funding and opportunities to small businesses: Open Topic: The Open Topic Program uses a technology-agnostic solicitation which encourages commercial industry to submit dual-use technology solutions without having a known end-user. It is used to capture the best capabilities and emerging technologies and allows industry to bring novel solutions to the DAF. Specific Topic: The Specific Topic Program seeks innovative solutions for SECAF identified Operational Imperatives and defined problem sets by a DAF end user or customer. Specific Topics have clearly-defined requirements and a known DAF customer built into the topic solicitation. STRATFI/TACFI: The STRATFI (Strategic Funding Increase) and TACFI (Tactical Funding Increase) Programs help to scale Phase II efforts to the level needed to achieve technology transitions. These programs de-risk development through syndication with multiple transition-focused partners and leveraging outside investment In FY 2022, SpaceWERX announced the Orbital Prime initiative under the SBIR/STTR Specific Topic program. Orbital Prime aligned a significant portion of the Specific Topic funding to the DAF's Operational Imperative #1, Space Order of Battle. Orbital Prime's objective is to seed the foundation for Assured Access to Space and Space Logistics/On-orbit servicing to enable a transition to a more resilient architecture to deliver services and maintain capabilities for all US & allied warfighters.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2025
- Source ID
- eae93ee866f42728aa3da3353a598156