U.S. Department of Energy announces $200 million for small business innovation

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced that more than $200 million in federal funding will be available this fall for small businesses. The funds are part of the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs, which focus on energy and national security technologies.

The restructured programs, managed by the DOE’s Office of Technology Commercialization and streamlined through the partnership intermediary ConnectWerx, aim to accelerate the transition of research into commercial markets. Priority areas for the Fall 2026 Phase I funding cycle include grid innovation and nuclear detonation detection.

Under the new tiered system, companies must first submit pitches to prove concept feasibility before competing for subsequent funding rounds. This approach is designed to ensure that federal investment is directed toward projects demonstrating both technical merit and commercial viability.