Marshall Space Flight Center
Technology Transfer Program
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In support of the NASA mission, the Technology
Transfer Program, which is housed in the Innovative
Partnerships Program (IPP) Office at NASA Headquarters,
has the responsibility for facilitating partnerships
with industry, academia, and other non-traditional
sources to develop and transfer technology in support
of national priorities and NASA’s Mission
Directorates. These partnerships engage innovators
and enterprises throughout the U.S economy and
NASA to fulfill NASA's mission needs and promote
the potential of NASA technology.
Point of Contact:
Dr. Jim Dowdy, 256-544-7604
Infusion Partnerships
(Spin-In)
IPP seeks collaborative research and infusion
partnerships with U.S. Industrial firms, academia,
and other government organizations for the development
of critical technologies in support of the strategic
needs of the NASA Mission Directorates. The goals
of these partnerships are to advance technology
readiness levels and to leverage commercial resources
and expertise.
Point of Contact:
Dr. Jim Dowdy, 256-544-7604
Patents and
Technology Commercialization (Spin-Out)
One of the primary avenues for partnering with NASA
is through NASA’s Patent Licensing Program.
NASA owns over 1,000 patents and patent applications
that protect inventions in hundreds of subject matter
categories. All of NASA licenses are individually
negotiated with the prospective licensee, and each
license contains terms concerning transfer (practical
application), license duration, royalties, and periodic
reporting. NASA patent licenses may be exclusive,
partially exclusive, or nonexclusive. The NASA Technology
Transfer Program, administered at NASA Headquarters,
has the authority to negotiate and grant patent
licenses pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 207-209.
Point of Contact:
Sammy Nabors, 256-544-5226
Small Business
Programs
SBIR/STTR. Through the Small Business
Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology
Transfer (STTR) programs, NASA encourages small
business concerns (SBCs) and non-profit research
institutions (RIs) with ties to an SBC to obtain
significant funding for the development of innovations.
Both SBIR and STTR seek innovations that contribute
to NASA missions and also have potential commercial
applications. NASA issues a request for proposals
along various technical topic and subtopic categories
each year. For more information, visit:
http://sbir.gsfc.nasa.gov/SBIR/SBIR.html
Points of Contact:
Lynn Garrison, 256-544-6719
Software Release
When most people think of NASA technology,
software does not always come to mind. However,
software is a strategic asset and a valuable NASA
technology. Software inventions and innovations,
like any other NASA technology, should be reported
and released in order to maximize its benefit to
NASA and the general public.
The Technology Transfer
Program and the Software Release Authority (SRA)
at each Center work together to ensure the proper
release of software. Each NASA Center has a process
for software release that begins with the software
developer and ends with the Center SRA’s approval
or rejection of the request for the software release.
Point of Contact:
Evelyn Hill, 256-544-7117
New Technology
Reporting
One of NASA's primary goals is to share leading-edge
technology with the U.S. industrial community. The
New Technology Reporting process provides an avenue
for innovators to disclose their inventions, discoveries,
and innovations. For information on disclosing NASA
technology, please visit the Electronic New Technology
REporting (eNTRe) webpage: http://webentre.nasa.gov.
Point
of Contact: Carolyn McMillan (544-9151
Web eNTRe
The Easiest Way to Report New Technologies
You may be surprised to know that
every year a number of innovations at Marshall are
patented and commercialized. Some of these inventions
have even been incorporated into common items we
use everyday. These technologies bring value to
the country, prestige to the Center, and monetary
reward to the inventors. Yes, monetary rewards to
inventors! Now with eNTRe, (pronounced entrée)
an easy step-by-step electronic process, there's
no easier way for NASA employees and contractors
to disclose their inventions and new technologies
to the Technology Transfer Department. eNTRe is
also the easiest way for contractors to report new
technologies as called out in their contract under
the New Technology Reporting clause.
Click for eNTRe.
NASA
Official: Dr. Jim Dowdy