Small Business Innovation Research

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, managed by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) under Program Element (PE) 0605502BR, is designed to stimulate technological innovation within the private sector, particularly among small businesses. The primary objective is to leverage the ingenuity and agility of small businesses to meet the Department of Defense's (DoD) research and development needs, with a focus on countering weapons of mass destruction (CWMD). This program also seeks to foster the participation of minority and disadvantaged businesses in technological innovation, and to increase the commercial application of DoD-supported research and development outcomes. The SBIR program is mandated by Public Law 106-554 and the SBIR and STTR Extension Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-183).

For Fiscal Year 2024, the SBIR program received funding consolidated in this program element during the year of execution. No additional funding is planned for FY 2025 and FY 2026 at this time, as future plans will be developed based on the outcomes of ongoing FY 2025 efforts. The SBIR program operates in close coordination with the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program, both of which are intended to bridge the gap between DoD research needs and private sector innovation.

The primary project within this line item is focused on CWMD Cross-Cutting Technical and Information Sciences. This project aims to develop and demonstrate a wide range of advanced technologies relevant to CWMD missions. Specific objectives include the development of detection and identification technologies for high-performance and ultra-high-performance concrete, leveraging advancements in ultrasonic pulse velocity, pulsed fiber lasers, laser-induced plasma shockwave generation, acoustic technologies, laser-based ultrasonic testing, LiDAR, and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy.

Another key goal is to advance computational modeling tools that can reconstruct heavy weapon repeated firing events in combat scenarios. These tools are intended to quantify blast exposure and risk injury scores for service members, enabling more accurate predictions of both single and cumulative blast doses encountered during combat operations. The project also seeks to develop fast-running methodologies for determining laser and tamper parameters to achieve desired impulses on materials or 3D structures.

Additional objectives under this project include the development of a Nuclear Plume Advisory Algorithm for use in satellite products, as well as the creation of synthetic and game environments for information resilience training. These environments are designed to help understand and mitigate foreign malign influence. The project also supports research into real-time streaming of radiation sensor data in subsea environments and the development of nanoelectromechanical systems for ultracompact, handheld airborne alpha contamination monitoring systems.

Further efforts are focused on non-cryogenic, spectroscopic radiation imaging technologies capable of imaging high-energy gamma radiation from neutron interrogation of chemical munitions. This includes the ability to identify the atomic composition of targets, including casing materials. The project also supports the development of ultra-compact, high-voltage, high energy density capacitors and advanced dielectric materials to enable portable x-ray radiographic imaging systems.

The SBIR program under this line item also aims to automate the extraction and analysis of classification markings from historical nuclear testing documents. By leveraging machine learning, the program seeks to streamline the manual classification review process, identify sensitive information, and present results in a structured format for expert review. These objectives are intended to enhance the DoD's ability to counter WMD threats through innovative technologies developed by small businesses, while also supporting broader goals of economic growth and technological leadership.