Description
The ARPA‑E “UNLOCK SBIR/STTR” funding opportunity seeks innovative, high‑risk R&D proposals that will dramatically improve extraction, stimulation, and recovery of low‑permeability subsurface resources—including shale oil & gas, geothermal, minerals, and coal‑bed methane. Applicants must be small businesses (SBIR) or small‑business‑linked research institutions (STTR) and will compete for up to twelve awards. Funding is provided via cooperative agreements or grants, with individual award amounts ranging from roughly $0.3 M to $4.6 M. Projects are expected to deliver breakthrough technologies that enhance fracture conductivity, improve water management, enable better sensing/characterization, and increase overall resource recovery efficiency.
• Target audience: U.S. small businesses (SBIR) and small‑business‑partnered research institutions (STTR).
• Technical focus: advanced proppants, fracture‑control technologies, enhanced‑recovery fluids, downhole sensors, water‑reuse and treatment, cross‑cutting subsurface‑resource technologies.
• Funding instrument: Cooperative Agreement or Grant; total anticipated funding $45 M across 12 awards.
• Application deadline: 20 Nov 2026 (via DOE eXCHANGE).
• Required registrations: SAM, DOE eXCHANGE, SBIR.gov company registration.
• Evaluation criteria: technical merit, potential for disruptive impact, feasibility of commercialization, and alignment with ARPA‑E mission.