Mississippi State University (MSU), in partnership with Innovate Mississippi, will launch a new SBIR/STTR Grant Assistance Program designed to help Mississippi-based STEM researchers and startups secure federal funding for innovation. The program will provide expert resources and support to strengthen Mississippi’s innovation ecosystem and drive economic growth.
This initiative, managed by MSU’s Office of Technology Management, will deliver education, training, and direct consulting support to university faculty, students, and non-affiliated startup teams across the state. The program will provide hands-on expertise to maximize the competitiveness of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) applications.
Services provided through the program include support for preparing full grant proposals, developing budgets and commercialization strategies, and navigating submission logistics. Each participating company will receive an initial consultation of approximately three hours to assess its readiness for funding. Following the assessment, selected companies will be eligible for 5-10+ hours of dedicated support for developing their Phase I applications with a professional grant writing consultant.
In addition to direct consulting, the program will broaden awareness and participation in SBIR/STTR opportunities through statewide events and training. Key events include:
- A dedicated SBIR/STTR track at the MS Aerospace & Defense Symposium on October 22-24.
- In partnership with Innovate Mississippi, an SBIR-focused track at the state’s flagship entrepreneurship conference, Accelerate, on November 11-12.
- In-person seminars are held annually across the state to educate entrepreneurs on proposal strategies.
The program is expected to increase the number of competitive SBIR/STTR applications from Mississippi, foster stronger collaboration between universities and small businesses, and enhance the state’s overall competitiveness in the federal innovation landscape. The official program kickoff and company recruitment will begin in the fourth quarter of 2025, with consultations commencing simultaneously.
