NASA Technology Scouting/Infusion

1
NASA Technology Scouting/Infusion
R. P. Turcotte Innovative Partnerships
Program NASA Langley Research Center FLC
Mid-Atlantic Annual meeting September 16,
2008
2
Innovative Partnerships Program Elements-- 2008

• AKA NASAs Tech Transfer Program
• Goals of obtaining technology from external
  resources to meet NASA mission needs and
  transferring technology out
• Technology Infusion
• Innovation Incubator
• Partnership Development/ Tech Transfer

3
Technology/Innovation Infusion

• SBIR/STTR -Phase III element and new Technology
  Infusion Managers (STIM)
• Seed Fund (Modeled after Air Force DUST program)
  -first two years involved investment of 16M by
  IPP, created 67 partnerships and leveraged 60M
  million in non-IPP funding. (Projects are 500K,
  one year)
• Innovation Ambassadors - 3-12 month
  assignments to an external organization focusing
  on innovation (10 per year)
• Innovation Scouts -technology experts visit
  with selected external organizations for a period
  of a week focusing on specific innovations (20?
  per year)

4
Innovation Incubator

• Centennial Challenges
• Prizes for demonstrating selected technologies
• lunar lander, power beaming/tether, lunar
  regolith excavation, astronaut glove
• Five competitions per year
• FAST
• NASA supported zero G parabolic flight test bed
  for companies, Universities, individuals
• Equipment / instruments for space use such as
  self-deploying shell structures, exercise sled,
  cryogenic tank gauge
• Initial flights this September with SBIR
  companies having prior developed technology

5
Scouting/Infusion Analyses and Outreach Events
at LaRC

• Significant on-going market analysis effort
• Technology or industry trend analyses
• Other agency programscollaboration opportunities
• Frost Sullivan weekly technology highlight
  reports broadly distributed
• Increasing workshop and national meeting presence
• Two-way communication focused, multi-purpose
  meetings
• Commercial/Military Space
• Joint NASA/Air Force conference starting in 09
• One-on-one private meetings
• National SBIR Meeting, November 2008
• NASA trackin addition to traditional presence--
• Mission needs/opportunities
• IP offering-- materials, sensors, energy
  technology for licensing or co-development
• One-on-one meetings
• Various topical workshops (3-6 per year), some
  led by FLC
• Tecfusion events
• Multiple 1 day meetings at large companies
  involving 5-10 SBIR companies matched to large
  company needs to promote Phase III development