Who is eligible for SBIR and STTR?

Under SBA's rules, to receive an SBIR or STTR award a company generally must:

• be a for-profit business located in the United States;
• have 500 or fewer employees, including affiliates;
• be more than 50% owned and controlled by U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens (other ownership structures, such as majority venture-capital ownership, are allowed only at agencies that permit them).

There are also program-specific rules on where the work is done, how much work the company must do itself, and (for SBIR) the principal investigator's employment. See SBIR vs. STTR. Some agencies add their own requirements, so read the solicitation.

Official sources

• SBIR.gov – Eligibility / About
• 13 CFR Part 121 – SBA size regulations (SBIR/STTR)

This guide is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. Rules change; the solicitation and SBA policy directive govern.