Launching a successful SBIR or STTR proposal starts long before submission. For North Dakota-based researchers and their partners, North Dakota State University’s Phase 0 Funding Program offers a strategic opportunity to prepare a competitive proposal with dedicated financial support.
TL;DR
Full-time NDSU faculty and eligible external collaborators can receive up to $7,500 in support for SBIR/STTR proposal development. Funding is provided through North Dakota’s Economic Diversification Research Funds (EDRF). Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Proposal development requires time, funding, and strategic coordination
SBIR and STTR programs are excellent sources of non-dilutive funding—but preparing a high-quality proposal is a challenge. From technical scope to commercialization planning, the process is resource-intensive and often underfunded in early-stage planning.
To bridge this gap, NDSU offers a Phase 0 funding mechanism that supports early proposal preparation work.
An NDSU research team partnered with a Fargo-based agtech startup to secure $7,500 in Phase 0 funds. This support enabled them to refine their USDA SBIR proposal, resulting in a $275K Phase I award that is now driving their product’s commercialization strategy
NDSU offers $7,500 for SBIR/STTR proposal preparation
The SBIR/STTR Phase 0 Funding Program, administered by NDSU Research and Creative Activity, provides up to $7,500 for eligible applicants to develop competitive federal proposals.
Funding is drawn from the Economic Diversification Research Funds (EDRF)—a resource created by the North Dakota legislature to support innovation and research commercialization across NDUS institutions.
Who can apply?
- Full-time NDSU faculty and research staff
- External companies, when the proposal demonstrates a clear and stated benefit to NDSU
- Faculty may participate in multiple projects but only one award per PI is allowed
Support proposal planning without overextending internal budgets
This award is designed to fund the foundational steps that help transform a research concept into a fundable SBIR/STTR proposal. Whether you’re hiring a consultant, building out technical sections, or coordinating with a small business partner, this early-stage funding ensures NDSU-based teams have the capacity to build competitive applications.
The program aligns well with Phase I or Phase II preparation and can also serve as a model for long-term commercialization pathways involving university research.
Without institutional support, academic research may not translate into funded proposals
University researchers often generate SBIR/STTR-worthy innovations but lack the infrastructure to translate those ideas into fundable proposals. Without early-stage funding, they may delay submission, lose potential partners, or submit underdeveloped applications.
The Phase 0 Funding Program ensures that proposals don’t stall at the starting line.
Apply for $7,500 to advance proposal readiness at NDSU
The program is reviewed internally by university staff and is open on a rolling basis. Funding decisions consider both the quality of the proposal concept and the benefit to NDSU, especially in cases where an external company is involved.
This is not a reimbursement program. Funds can be used to support:
- Proposal writing and development
- Research alignment with SBIR/STTR topics
- External collaboration with small businesses
There is no cost-sharing requirement, and the IP policy defers to standard NDSU agreements.
Ready to turn your research into a fundable federal proposal?
Learn more or apply through the official NDSU Phase 0 Program page. If you’re a small business collaborating with NDSU or need help integrating this program into your SBIR planning, schedule a consult call with our team for next-step strategy.
EB Howard helps academic innovators move from research to revenue
We’ve supported dozens of researchers in transforming complex academic concepts into competitive SBIR proposals through programs like NDSU’s Phase 0 initiative. With the right structure and early investment, your proposal has a much greater chance of success—and we’re here to support every step of that journey.
Ready To Take the Next Step?
We assist our clients in locating, applying for, and evaluating the outcomes of non-dilutive grant funding. We believe non-dilutive funding is a crucial tool for mitigating investment risks, and we are dedicated to guiding our clients through the entire process—from identifying the most suitable opportunities to submitting and managing grant applications.