One North Carolina Small Business Program (SBIR/STTR Incentive & Matching Funds)
North Carolina Department of Commerce — Office of Science, Technology & Innovation
Up to $12K (Incentive) / up to $75K (Matching)
Researched for this program: 4 rejection traps · 4 required documentsWhat decides this award ↓
NC backs your SBIR run
North Carolina's two-part state support for SBIR/STTR-focused small businesses, run by the NC Department of Commerce's Office of Science, Technology & Innovation. The Incentive Funds component reimburses qualified NC small businesses up to $12,000 for eligible costs of preparing and submitting a federal Phase I SBIR/STTR proposal. The separate Matching Funds component awards NC businesses that have already won a federal Phase I SBIR/STTR award 50% of that federal award, up to $75,000, to bridge the gap between Phase I and Phase II. For FY2026, roughly $200,000 was available for Incentive grants (~25 awards) and about $1.88 million for Matching grants (~25 awards), with applications open until June 30, 2026 or until funds are exhausted.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- State
- Amount range
- $12,000 – $75,000
- Realistic amount
- An Incentive applicant recovers up to $12,000 of proposal-prep cost; a Matching applicant typically receives close to the $75,000 cap (50% of a Phase I award, which commonly runs $150,000+). FY2025 Matching awards averaged ~$72,000 across 51 grants.
- Deadline
- FY 2026-27 SBIR/STTR Incentive applications are open until June 30, 2027 or until funds are exhausted; the Matching solicitation is separately dated
- Status
- active
- States
- North Carolina
- Payment model
- reimbursement
Who qualifies
- Incentive Funds: qualified North Carolina small business preparing/submitting a federal Phase I SBIR/STTR proposal
- Matching Funds: North Carolina small business that has received a federal Phase I SBIR/STTR award
- Must be developing SBIR/STTR-eligible technologies
- Must be a North Carolina-based small business
Hard requirements
- Must be an incorporated business
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Incentive: eligible costs of preparing and submitting a federal Phase I SBIR/STTR proposal (e.g., grant-writing, consulting, related prep costs)
- Matching: SBIR/STTR project costs supported by the federal Phase I award
- Documented project-related costs per the solicitation
Ineligible expenses
- Costs unrelated to the SBIR/STTR proposal or project
- Phase II-only costs under the Phase I Matching component
- Expenses outside the eligible categories defined in the solicitation
How to apply
-
1
Determine which component fits
If you are preparing a Phase I proposal, target the Incentive Funds (up to $12,000). If you already hold a federal Phase I award, target the Matching Funds (50% up to $75,000).
~2 hrs
-
2
Review the current solicitation
Read the FY2026 Incentive or Matching solicitation on the NC Commerce site to confirm eligible costs, documentation, and current funding availability.
~3 hrs
-
3
Apply via CyberGrants
Submit the application through the CyberGrants Management System, attaching the federal proposal/award and eligible-cost documentation.
~8 hrs
-
4
Receive award / reimbursement
If selected, execute the award and receive the Incentive reimbursement or the Matching grant up to the applicable cap.
~4 hrs
The Incentive component is unusually founder-friendly: it pays you back up to $12,000 just for preparing a Phase I SBIR/STTR proposal — even if you don't win the federal award — so it de-risks the grant-writing cost of your first attempt. Apply early in the fiscal year; the program runs on first-come availability and can exhaust funds before the June 30 close.
Deadline & timing
Applications managed through the CyberGrants Management System. Funding renews each fiscal year; the Matching component requires a received federal Phase I award, the Incentive component is for proposal preparation/submission. Funds can run out before June 30, so apply early in the cycle.
Deadline: June 30, 2027 — put it in your calendar before you close this tab.
Includes reminders one week and one day before. Verify on the official program page — funders move dates.
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Last updated October 17, 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.