The North Carolina Office of Science, Technology & Innovation offers the following grant programs to fund innovative science and technology companies in the state:

One North Carolina Small Business Program
(Applications now being accepted! Click on link for more information)

• The SBIR/STTR Phase I Incentive Funds Program provides funding to help NC businesses apply for federal Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) awards.    
   
• The SBIR/STTR Phase I Matching Funds Program awards matching funds to NC businesses who have received a federal Phase I SBIR or STTR award. 

The SBIR and STTR programs help small businesses develop and commercialize innovative new technologies.

To see the latest program solicitations, apply to the program, submit a report, or find information about the program in general, see:

To learn about the impacts of the program, see Program Impacts & Success Stories. 

Also see the latest press release on awarded FY 2024 grants: North Carolina Awards Science, Technology and Innovation Grants to 80 Small Businesses (October 18, 2024).

The Office of Science, Technology & Innovation produces research and reports that focus on both innovation and strategy, and is responsible for producing the state's primary innovation barometer, Tracking Innovation. Recent reports from the Office include:

Innovation

NC Innovation Index (2024)	Advancing Defense Innovation
See Press Release	See Press Release

NC Coalitions Support & Resource Guide	University Innovation Council
See Press Release

See more innovation reports.
 

Strategy

Southeast Energy Innovation Leadership	Clean Energy and Clean Transportation

Carolinas' Energy Economy Survey	NC In the Next Tech Tsunami
See Press Release	See Press Release

See more strategy reports.
 

A comprehensive list of the Office's policy research reports and files can be found here.

North Carolina is prioritizing the formation and continued support of Technology Coalitions (also referred to as Hubs, Clusters, Centers) that can compete for federal or private funding opportunities related to innovation, infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing projects statewide.  The goals for the State of North Carolina and the NC Office of Science, Technology & Innovation (OSTI) and the Board of Science, Technology & Innovation (BSTI) are to:      

Foster Innovation: Coalitions bring together diverse stakeholders, fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation. This can lead to groundbreaking advancements in technology and other sectors. 

Enhance Economic Development: Increased funding and innovation translate to job creation, business growth, and overall economic development. 

Promote Sustainable Growth: By building strong Coalitions and implementing efficient practices, North Carolina can create sustainable growth models that benefit communities across the state, fostering accountability and supporting long-term prosperity. 

Attract More Funding: Coalitions are powerful vehicles for securing federal and private funding. By supporting Coalitions, North Carolina can increase its share of grants and investments, driving economic growth and innovation.

In pursuit of these goals, we have created a Coalition Support and Resource Guide to provide a key resource for Coalitions pursuing federal or private investment, so that Coalitions can pursue those opportunities with stronger internal capabilities and the support, through OSTI/BSTI or otherwise, that they need to succeed. 

OSTI/BSTI provides a broad set of resources and strategic support for Coalitions and are seeking to grow the range and types of support through strategic initiatives with the State of North Carolina: 

North Carolina Technology Coalitions are encouraged to work with the OSTI in identifying support opportunities that strengthen your Coalition. To start your communication and identify support from OSTI, please fill out the NC Coalitions Intake Form. 

The information provided in the Intake Form allows for Coalitions and OSTI to measure their maturity level and preparedness across key dimensions, including financial management infrastructure and alignment with OSTI’s mission.  These resources are used to identify areas that Coalitions may want to expand and grow, so they can be strategic in how they seek support from OSTI.

Since 2017, the Office of Science, Technology & Innovation (OSTI), on behalf of the Board of Science, Technology & Innovation (BSTI), has had a special focus on the Data Economy —a business ecosystem predicated on the digital transformation of operations, products, and services. 

"Data Economy" is a general term inclusive of big data, data science, and analytics. Leadership in the Data Economy is becoming increasingly critical, as more and more economic value is based on the ability to successfully collect and manipulate data for insight and profit.

To facilitate preparation of students in North Carolina to contribute to and thrive in the Data Economy, the BSTI, with support from the NC Office of Strategic Partnerships (OSP), has developed a visualization tool to map the distribution of data literacy pathways in Career and Technical Education (CTE) among high schools in North Carolina, as well as data-focused certificates and degree programs across community colleges, four-year colleges and universities in across the state.

The visualization tool’s intended users include (but are not limited to) educators, government agencies, elected officials, and business leaders. Created by Western Carolina University (WCU) professor Scott Barlowe, the tool is available at:

• North Carolina Data Economy Pathways Visualization Tool
   

A link to documentation on explaining and illustrating how to use the tool is at the link above and Documentation. 

Additional background on the visualization tool's development is available at OSP's Project Portal. 

Additional information about the strategic importance of the Data Economy is available at Data Economy Press Release.

Executive Staff

The resources below represent key components of North Carolina's science, technology, and innovation-based ecosystem.

Government Departments & Offices

• NC Governor’s Office
• NC General Assembly
• NC (State of NC) Page
• NC Department of Commerce
• NC Office of Information Technology Services
• NC Secretary of State - Business Registration
• NC State Energy Office
• NC Broadband
• NC State Energy Profile

Business & Entrepreneurship Support

• NC Biotechnology Center
• NC Business Incubation Association
• NC Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Map
• NCInnovation
• Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED)
• Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC)

Associations, Institutes, & Think Tanks

• NC Association for Biomedical Research (NCABR)
• NC Economic Development Association (NCEDA)
• NC Technology Association (NCTA)
• NC STEM Center
• NC Science Leadership Association
• Institute for Emerging Issues
• Kenan Institute of Engineering, Technology & Science
• MCNC
• National Consortium for Data Science (managed by RENCI)
• Renaissance Computing Institute (RENCI)
• Research Triangle Institute International (RTI International)

Educational Organizations & Centers

• University of North Carolina (all 16 UNC institutions)
• REACH NC (Research, Engagement and Capabilities Hub of NC)
• NC School of Science and Mathematics
• NC Independent Colleges and Universities
• NC Community College System
• NC BioNetwork
• NC Science House
• NC Clean Energy Technology Center
• FIRST North Carolina Robotics
• NC Mathematics and Science Education Network
• NC Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Center (SMT Center)

Science Museums

• NC Grassroots Science Museum Collaborative
• Discovery Place
• Museum of Life and Science
• NC Museum of Natural Sciences

Research Parks

• Carolina North (Millennial Campus at UNC-Chapel Hill)
• Centennial Campus (Millennial Campus at NCSU)
• Charlotte Research Institute (Millennial Campus at UNC Charlotte)
• CREST Research Park (Millennial Campus at UNC Wilmington)
• Gateway University Research Park (Joint Millennial Campus of UNCG & NC A&T)
• Millennial Initiative at Western Carolina University (Millennial Campus at WCU)
• NC Research Campus
• Wake Forest Innovation Quarter
• Research Triangle Park