Overview
- The Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act, signed Monday, reauthorizes the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs through Sept. 30, 2031.
- Program authority had expired Sept. 30, freezing new solicitations and leaving pending awards on hold for more than six months.
- The law adds tougher screening to keep awards from firms with ties to foreign adversaries, addressing national security concerns that stalled reauthorization.
- Space startups and the U.S. Space Force’s SpaceWERX, which use these awards for R&D in propulsion, refueling, solar arrays, radios, and navigation, expect stalled contracts to resume and investor confidence to rebound.
- The package sets no lifetime funding caps, directs agencies to limit how often firms apply each year, and creates a Strategic Breakthrough Allocation of up to $30 million with matching funds.