Utah Innovation Center
resource active confidence: Medium status: Draft updated 2026-08-11
Summary
Nucleus Grow, formerly the Utah Innovation Center, helps Utah deep-tech and life-sciences companies compete for federal SBIR and STTR research funding. Proposal coaching can move substantive non-dilutive capital into risky technical work, but comparable assistance exists elsewhere, fitting C-tier scale without unique structural power.
Who It's For
Utah-headquartered for-profit companies with a Utah business license pursuing SBIR/STTR funding — especially deep tech, life sciences, AI, advanced manufacturing, and cleantech ventures at pre-commercial R&D stages.
What It Provides
SBIR/STTR topic matching, proposal development and editing, monthly SBIR 101 workshops, agency-specific guidance (NIH, NSF, DoD, DOE, USDA, NASA, and others), SAM.gov registration support, and links to the Utah Technology Innovation Fund (UTIF) microgrants and nonrecourse loans for SBIR applicants. Nucleus Grow is also Utah's FAST Partnership awardee.
How To Use It
Start with the official website, then confirm current programs before recommending.
- Official website · https://www.nucleusutah.org/grow
- Email: grow@nucleusutah.org
- Startup State listing: https://startup.utah.gov/business-resource/utah-innovation-center/
Cost / Eligibility
Consultations, editing, and most guidance are free to eligible Utah businesses; some events may carry nominal fees. Company must be headquartered in Utah, for-profit, American-owned, at least 51% individually owned, and meet federal SBIR/STTR size rules (500 or fewer employees).
Best Fits
Utah deep-tech founders preparing first or follow-on SBIR/STTR proposals — weak fit for main-street businesses without federal R&D topics or pre-commercial technology.
Evidence
Open Questions
- Should UTIF microgrant and Phase II loan details live on this page or a separate UTIF page?