SBIR & STTR Topics for Defense Tech Companies in Pennsylvania

There are 15 open federal SBIR/STTR topics right now that match Defense Tech capabilities, across DOD, NIH, NSF, DOE, NASA, USDA, and 5 other agencies. Below: the current open topic list, recent Defense Tech winners headquartered in Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania SBDC SBIR contact, and how TopicScout compares to SBIR.gov / Grants.gov / HigherGov / Instrumentl for finding the next topic to apply to.

Open Defense Tech topics (15)

1. Automated Discovery for Design and Control of Turbulent Systems (AutoDIDACTS) — DARPA - Defense Sciences Office · closes 2026-05-28
   The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative proposals for the data-informed development of generalizable models and principles for aeronautical design and the optimal control of turbulent systems. Proposed…
2. High-performance Optimized Recycled Nuclear Isotopes for Gen IV reactors (HORNIG) — Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy · closes 2026-05-28
   NOFO Number: DE-FOA-0003623 – High-performance Optimized Recycled Nuclear Isotopes for Gen IV reactors (HORNIG) Agency Overview: The Advanced Research Projects Agency—Energy (ARPA-E), an organization within the Department of Ene…
3. Maneuver Damage Coordination Support for Fort Polk — Fort Worth District · closes 2026-05-28
   A cooperative agreement is being offered ONLY to members of the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Program Region(s) Great Plains, Gulf Coast, Great Rivers, and Colorado Plateau. Award will be made upon mutual agreement and acceptan…
4. Tree Island Wildlife Habitat Assessment for Water Conservation Area 3 and Everglades National Park, Florida — Department of Defense · closes 2026-05-28
   Agency Name: Fort Worth DistrictDescription:Note: A full study proposal and proposed budget are NOT requested at this time.Project Title: Tree Island Wildlife Habitat Assessment for Water Conservation Area 3 and Everglades National Park, Fl…
5. Mill Creek Natural Resource Training and Education — Walla Walla District · closes 2026-05-28
   The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is seeking organizations to enter into a cooperative agreement for outdoor education and training, flood control infrastructure maintenance, effective environmental and recreational resource manageme…
6. INSPIRING GENERATIONS OF NEW INNOVATORS TO IMPACT TECHNOLOGIES IN ENERGY 2026 (IGNIITE 2026) — Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy · closes 2026-05-29
   NOFO number DE-FOA-0003624 INSPIRING GENERATIONS OF NEW INNOVATORS TO IMPACT TECHNOLOGIES IN ENERGY 2026 (IGNIITE 2026) To obtain a copy of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) please go to ARPA-E eXCHANGE at https://arpa-e-foa.energy.g…
7. Dworshak Natural Resource Training and Education — Walla Walla District · closes 2026-05-30
   The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is seeking organizations to enter into a cooperative agreement for outdoor education and training, flood control infrastructure maintenance, effective environmental and recreational resource manageme…
8. Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) — Geological Survey · closes 2026-05-30
   The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC) seeks to provide financial assistance to help build a program focusing on reclamation sciences to support energy development, critical minerals, and streamlining r…
9. ROSES 2025: Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science — NASA Headquarters · closes 2026-05-31
   NOTICE: Amended: December 12, 2025. Section I(e) on High-End Computing Resources was updated, a warning about "portfolio" PDFs was added to Section IV(b)ii, and a statement about public disclosure of proposal information was added…
10. Tribal Colleges and Universities Program — U.S. National Science Foundation · closes 2026-06-01
    The Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP) provides awards to federally recognized1 Tribal Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native-serving institutions, and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions to promote high quality science (inc…
11. Antarctic Research Requiring U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) Support for Fieldwork — U.S. National Science Foundation · closes 2026-06-01
    Through this solicitation, the Antarctic Sciences Section (ANT) of the Office of Polar Programs (OPP) funds cutting-edge research that requires logistical support from the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP)and: Improves understanding of interact…
12. Preclinical Proof of Concept Studies for Rare Diseases (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — National Institutes of Health · closes 2026-06-02
    This notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) provides funding to conduct efficacy studies in an established rare disease preclinical model to demonstrate that a proposed therapeutic agent warrants further development. In addition to preclinica…
13. Defense Sciences Office (DSO) Office-wide BAA — DARPA - Defense Sciences Office · closes 2026-06-02
    The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Defense Sciences Office (DSO) is soliciting proposals that investigate innovative approaches that enable revolutionary advances in science, devices, or systems for national security appl…
14. USGS Earthquake Hazards Program External Research Support Announcement for Fiscal Year 2027 — Geological Survey · closes 2026-06-04
    The USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (EHP) issues this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for assistance to support research in earthquake hazards, the physics of earthquakes, earthquake occurrence, and earthquake safety policy. This activ…
15. Ecological Parameters in the Forested Wetlands of Southern Florida — Fort Worth District · closes 2026-06-05
    Award will be made upon mutual agreement and acceptance of the terms and conditions contained in the request for proposal and the recipient's CESU Master Agreement. Note the established CESU Program indirect rate is 17.5%. Responses to…

Recent Defense Tech SBIR winners in Pennsylvania

1. X-BIOMEDICAL INC (Newtown Square, Pennsylvania) — Department of Health and Human Services Phase I 2023, $293,470
   Development of a tele-mentoring system integrated into an ultra-portable surgical microscope to treat cataract in unders
2. UROGENIE LLC (Richboro, Pennsylvania) — Department of Health and Human Services Phase II 2023, $889,432
   Digital Uroflowmetry for Office and Home
3. CONSEGNA PHARMA INC (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) — Department of Health and Human Services Phase II 2023, $1,330,781
   IND-enabling development of a long-duration antagonist to treat opioid overdose
4. FURANICA, INC. (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) — Department of Health and Human Services Phase I 2023, $293,543
   Structurally engineered N-acyl amino acids for the treatment of NASH
5. APOGEE BIOTECHNOLOGY CORPORATION (Hummelstown, Pennsylvania) — Department of Health and Human Services Phase II 2023, $852,174
   Opaganib as a Medical Countermeasure for Gastrointestinal Acute Radiation Syndrome

How to find SBIR topics: TopicScout vs alternatives

SBIR.gov is the canonical source — every SBIR/STTR topic posts there first. TopicScout's value isn't access; it's the cap-statement scoring + weekly digest so you stop scanning portals by hand. Try the free matcher against your statement — takes a paragraph, no signup.

FAQ

How do I find open SBIR topics for a Defense Tech company in Pennsylvania?

The canonical source is SBIR.gov, which lists every open SBIR/STTR topic across all 11 federal agencies. To filter to Defense Tech-relevant topics that match your specific tech, paste your capability statement into TopicScout's free matcher — it scores all open topics against your cap statement in ~60 seconds. Pennsylvania SBIR firms also get help from the Pennsylvania SBDC and state matching-fund programs.

What's the best SBIR matching tool for Defense Tech startups?

For solo founders: TopicScout's $29/mo plan covers all 11 agencies with weekly AI-scored digests. For consulting firms supporting multiple clients: TopicScout institutional plan ($500–2k/mo flat) or HigherGov ($500–5k/yr). For nonprofits (not SBIR-eligible): Instrumentl. SBIR.gov itself is free but requires manual scanning.

Which agencies fund the most Defense Tech SBIR/STTR work?

Based on the current open topic list, the top agencies for Defense Tech are visible in the topic list above. Historically: DARPA + AFWERX + Navy SBIR for defense-adjacent Defense Tech, NIH + CDC for health-adjacent, NSF + DOE for foundational R&D.