THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF SCIENCES, ENGINEERING, AND MEDICINE
Center for Health, People, and Places
Social and Economic Systems
Committee on the Review of the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs at the Department of Defense
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Congressional Briefing
Thursday, January 8, 2026 – 10:00 a.m.
via Zoom
on
Review of the SBIR and STTR Programs at the Department of Defense
Requested by Congress in P.L. 112-81, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, this review of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs at the Department of Defense presents a comprehensive assessment of how these programs operate and the impacts they deliver.
The report finds that the Department of Defense's SBIR and STTR programs are effective tools for stimulating technological innovation, engaging small businesses, and broadening the defense industrial base, while identifying opportunities to improve data systems, technology transition, program visibility, and administrative efficiency. Drawing on extensive quantitative and qualitative evidence, the report offers targeted recommendations to strengthen program management, enhance flexibility, and ensure that promising innovations can move more effectively from research to operational and acquisition use.
These briefings were for members of Congress and congressional staff only. The report was publicly released on January 9, 2026 and can be found, in its entirety, on the Web site of the National Academies Press.