Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program for CHIPS For America – CHIPS Metrology | 2024 SBIR CHIPS 01

Opportunity Information: Apply for 2024 SBIR CHIPS 01

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is offering a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding opportunity under CHIPS for America focused on "CHIPS Metrology." The purpose is to support eligible small businesses in testing and proving out the technical merit and feasibility of new ideas or technologies that can become real products or services for the commercial microelectronics and semiconductor marketplace. In practical terms, this program is aimed at early-stage R&D where a small company can demonstrate that a concept works, can be engineered into something usable, and has a credible path toward commercialization in the U.S. semiconductor ecosystem.

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), identified as "2024 SBIR CHIPS 01," is organized around multiple topic areas tied to metrology, meaning measurement science and the tools, methods, and standards used to measure and verify semiconductor materials, devices, and manufacturing processes. The topics emphasize needs that are considered critical to maintaining and strengthening U.S. leadership in the global semiconductor industry. The scope includes research projects that deliver new or improved measurement services, tools, and instrumentation; innovative manufacturing metrologies that can be deployed in fabrication and advanced packaging environments; and novel assurance and provenance technologies that help verify authenticity, integrity, and traceability across the supply chain. It also includes advanced metrology research and development testbeds, which are shared or scalable environments where new measurement approaches and instrumentation can be developed, validated, and demonstrated under realistic conditions.

The funding instrument type is a cooperative agreement, which typically signals a more involved relationship with the government compared to a standard grant, with NIST potentially having substantial involvement during the period of performance (for example, in technical direction, coordination, or milestone-based collaboration, depending on the specific award terms). The activity category is science and technology and other research and development, and the opportunity is listed under CFDA numbers 11.042 and 11.620. NIST anticipates making about 24 awards under this announcement. An explicit award ceiling is not provided in the source information included here.

Eligibility is narrowly focused on SBIR-qualified small businesses. Each applicant organization must meet the Small Business Administration (SBA) definition of a small business concern at the time of award, not just at the time of application. Foreign entities are not eligible to apply or receive awards under this solicitation, which aligns with the broader CHIPS and national competitiveness goals emphasizing domestic capability and supply chain security.

Key administrative details from the posting include an original closing date of June 14, 2024, and a creation date for the opportunity record of April 16, 2024. Overall, the opportunity is designed for U.S. small businesses with strong technical capabilities in semiconductor-related measurement, verification, and test infrastructure, especially those developing tools and methods that can be transitioned into commercial use and help improve manufacturing performance, quality, trust, and resilience across microelectronics production and supply chains.

• The National Institute of Standards and Technology in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program for CHIPS For America – CHIPS Metrology" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.042, 11.620.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-04-16.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-06-14. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 24 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for 2024 SBIR CHIPS 01

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