The 2025 NDAA deal moves forward without restoring the expired SBIR/STTR programs, leaving thousands of small R&D firms in limbo as congressional negotiations stall over proposed reforms, caps, and national-security vetting requirements.
The INNOVATE Act could reshape SBIR with stricter rules, award caps, and national security focus—unless a rival bill makes the program permanent. Learn what’s at stake for small tech firms.
The INNOVATE Act of 2025 proposes major changes to SBIR: new entry pathways, stricter commercialization rules, and limits on repeat winners. Here’s what U.S. startups and small firms need to know now.