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Hawaiʻi Small Business Innovation Research Program (HSBIR) Grants

The Hawaiʻi Small Business Innovation Research Program (HSBIR) provides matching grants to help companies further develop new products to solve critical issues. Applicants must have received federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) / Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants or contracts to qualify for the state matching grant program. The HSBIR programs provides up to 50% match for companies receiving Phase I SBIR/STTR awards, up to $75,000.


Funding Amounts in 2026

Applications Received

23

Companies Funded

19

Grants Awarded

$1.5 M

Federal Awards

$24 M


How to Apply

Opening Dates and Deadlines

  • Grant applications for FY27 Phase 0 and Phase I will open October 23, 2026 at 9am and close on December 11, 2026 at 11:59pm. Stay informed about future grant opportunities by subscribing to the HTDC newsletter (sign up below). This link for the Phase I (https://www.tfaforms.com/5237484), this link for the Phase 0 (https://www.tfaforms.com/4709459) and the buttons below will be active when applications open.
  • For an overview of the FY27 Hawaii Small Business Innovation Research (HSBIR) program and the federal SBIR program, please join us for an info session on November 18, 2026 at 9am. This session will be hybrid, please join us in person at the Entrepreneurs Sandbox or online. Please review the application and bring any questions you have. Please register here.

Eligibility & Requirements for Phase I Match

  • Eligible companies must:
  • Be registered to do business in Hawaiʻi
  • Be compliant in Hawaiʻi Compliance Express (HCE)
  • Have project work done in Hawaiʻi
  • Have an active Federal SBIR/STTR grant within the past 12 months
  • Agree to complete NIST MEP and HTDC impact metrics surveys
  • Agree to participate in HTDC’s entrepreneurship and SBIR/STTR programming and events
  • Previously awarded companies who do not complete either required surveys or do not participate in any HTDC programming / events, will not be considered for funding. Upon successful completion of the next round of surveys (next survey release is TBD), the company will then be eligible to apply for funding.

How Applications Are Scored

  • Application criteria includes team, company, need, commercial potential, and economic impact to the State and will be scored by a review committee. See the scoresheet that we use. Please note: Scoresheet subject to change.
  • First time and neighbor island applicants will be given priority, as well as projects focused on HTDC priority areas: Ocean, Space, Energy, and Health.
  • View the HSBIR program administrative rules along with reference to Hawaii Revised Statutes.

Questions?

If you have questions, please email sbir@htdc.org.


Funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration FAST grant