South Carolina’s small business innovation community received a major piece of good news this spring: Congress has reauthorized the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs, ending a long period of uncertainty stalling one of the federal government’s most powerful tools for fueling small business growth.
For South Carolina companies ready to compete for this funding, free expert assistance is already available through 3PhaseSC. “We are excited about the reauthorization of the SBIR/STTR program through 2031. SBIR/STTR funds translate directly into jobs, research, and economic growth for South Carolina. With the program open again, we want every eligible small business in this state to know that they do not have to navigate this alone. Our services are free, our team is ready, and the opportunity is real,” said 3PhaseSC Program Manager Kyle Salazar.
3PhaseSC, supported by the South Carolina Department of Commerce and financially managed by the South Carolina Research Authority, has spent the past seven years positioned squarely at the intersection of South Carolina’s small business community and this federal funding opportunity. To date, 3PhaseSC has helped South Carolina companies secure more than $59 million in SBIR and STTR awards, providing no-cost proposal development assistance, technical writing support, coaching, and connections to R&D partners, business consultants, and federal program managers.
“This is another huge step for the innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem we are building in South Carolina,” said Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey. “As the new home and headquarters of American innovation, the state’s momentum is growing because of valuable partnerships like the ones S.C. Commerce enjoys with 3PhaseSC and SCRA. I encourage our small business community to seize this opportunity.”
“Partnering with the South Carolina Department of Commerce, SCRA can provide the necessary funding for 3PhaseSC to translate federal research dollars into real outcomes for South Carolina companies. The reauthorization of SBIR and STTR unleashes a wave of new opportunities for promising companies across our state,” said SCRA President and CEO Bill Kirkland. “Every dollar secured through these programs represents a small business that can now hire, research, and grow right here in South Carolina. That’s exactly the kind of high-impact investment SCRA exists to support.”
The SBIR and STTR programs collectively direct more than $5 billion dollars in federal research and development investment to U.S. small businesses each year, funding early-stage technology development across 11 federal agencies, including the National Science Foundation, the Department of War, the National Institutes of Health, and NASA. The reauthorization, signed into law in April 2026, extends both programs and reaffirms Congress’s commitment to small business-led innovation as a national priority.
South Carolina small businesses interested in pursuing SBIR or STTR funding are encouraged to connect with 3PhaseSC early in the process. The program works with companies at every stage — from first-time applicants to experienced SBIR recipients seeking to scale. There is no fee to participate.
Companies can register and learn more at www.3phasesc.com or reach the team directly at info@3phasesc.com.
