WASHINGTON, 4 March 2026: AdvaMed said the U.S. Senate has approved legislation to reauthorize the federal Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs, and the association called on the House of Representatives to move quickly on passage. The medtech trade group said the vote matters because authorization for the two programs lapsed on 30 September 2025, leaving early-stage medical technology companies without the certainty they need as they pursue product research and development.
Business impact
AdvaMed framed the Senate action as important for emerging medtech manufacturers and startups that depend on non-dilutive support to advance early-stage innovation. Scott Whitaker, the association's president and CEO, said the programs are invaluable to early-stage medtech businesses and startups and argued that the grants help advance U.S. healthcare innovation, create high-quality jobs, strengthen national leadership in medtech, and support the development of lifesaving and life-enhancing technologies for patients.
The association tied that argument directly to its membership base. AdvaMed said a majority of its more than 600 member companies are emerging and small businesses represented through its AdvaMed Accel division. In a survey cited by the group, 89 percent of Accel members reported applying for SBIR or STTR grants, while 31 percent said they had successfully secured funding, underscoring how widely the programs are used in the early stages of medtech company development.
Why the programs matter to medtech startups
According to AdvaMed, small businesses and startups account for a significant share of medtech innovation but often struggle to fund the early research and development needed to bring next-generation products to patients. The association said the SBIR and STTR programs help close that financing gap by offering competitive grants that allow innovation to continue when private funding may be difficult to obtain at the earliest stages.
AdvaMed also emphasized the breadth of the federal support structure behind the programs. It said the grants are distributed across 11 federal agencies, specifically naming the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Defense. In the association's view, restoring authorization would provide confidence and predictability for startups working on product innovation after the lapse that began at the end of September 2025.
Legislative outlook and bipartisan backing
The statement highlighted the bipartisan support behind the reauthorization push. AdvaMed specifically applauded Sen. Joni Ernst, chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and Sen. Ed Markey, the committee's ranking member. It also named Rep. Roger Williams, chairman of the House Committee on Small Business, Rep. Lydia Velázquez, the committee's ranking member, Rep. Brian Babin, chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, and Rep. Zoe Lofgren, the ranking member.
While welcoming the Senate vote, AdvaMed made clear that it sees the measure as unfinished business until the House acts. Whitaker said the Senate's action means the industry is one step closer to continuing its work with Congress and the Administration in medtech innovation. For startups and smaller manufacturers, the next step is whether the House advances the legislation and completes restoration of the two programs.