The Department of the Air Force’s investment arm has announced a new window for small businesses to receive government and commercial funding for the development of their technologies.
AFWERX AFVentures will accept proposals from qualified small businesses to receive Phase II prototype development financing under the Strategic Funding Increase and Tactical Funding Increase programs until June 30, the Air Force Research Laboratory said Thursday.
STRATFI offers up to $15 million in Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer Research funding throughout a four-year period, while TACFI provides between $375,000 and $1.8 million for two years of research work.
“We are taking a real step toward distributed innovation in the DAF, allowing for technology to prove itself out across the force, and then accelerating those that show the most promise,” explained Maj. Greg Sundbeck, program manager for STRATFI/TACFI.
In fiscal 2021, AFVentures received 162 capability packages and committed $293 million in funding that, in addition to a combined $608 in government and private-sector funds, will be obligated in future awards.