The 2026 federal funding landscape is already taking shape — and for companies working in deep tech, health, defense, and advanced industries, timing will be critical.
Across agencies like Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), Department of Defense, and NASA, a new wave of SBIR/STTR solicitations is either open or about to launch.
Understanding these timelines early is not just useful — it’s strategic.
A Snapshot of What’s Open Now
Several major opportunities are already active or entering key stages:
🏥 ARPA-H
ARPA-H continues to move forward with ambitious health-focused innovation programs.
- Feedback/questions deadline: May 6, 2026
- Proposer Day: June 11, 2026
- Solution Summary deadline: July 10, 2026
These programs are designed for high-impact, transformative technologies — with a strong emphasis on real-world application.
🪖 Department of Defense (DoD)
The DoD has laid out a structured, multi-release calendar extending through October 2026.
- Rolling pre-releases and openings from April to September
- Continuous submission windows across multiple cycles
- Opportunities across Army, Air Force, DARPA, and Navy
This cadence allows companies to plan ahead — but also increases competition, making early positioning essential.
🚀 NASA
NASA is currently running both Phase II and upcoming SBIR/STTR calls:
- 2025 SBIR Phase II: Open until May 15, 2026
- 2026–2027 SBIR/STTR calls: Open until May 21, 2026
For companies already in the ecosystem, this is a key moment to secure follow-on funding and advance commercialization.
🔜 What’s Coming Next
Several additional agencies are preparing to release new solicitations:
⚕️ National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Expected opening: Early June 2026
Deadline: September 5, 2026
🚧 Department of Transportation (DOT)
Expected timeline: June–July 2026
🥩 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Expected: Phase II in summer, Phase I in fall
The Strategic TakeawaY
2026 is shaping up to be a highly active year for non-dilutive funding across multiple sectors.
But the increase in opportunities comes with:
- More competition
- Greater scrutiny
- Higher expectations around commercialization and impact
Companies that succeed won’t just have strong technology — they’ll have a clear funding strategy aligned with the right pathway.