|
The NASA Commercial Technology Program
sponsors a number of organizations around the country that are
designed to assist U.S. businesses in accessing, utilizing, and
commercializing NASA-funded research and technology. These organizations
work closely with the Commercial Technology Offices, located
at each of the 10 NASA field centers, providing a full range
of technology transfer and commercialization services and assistance.
Technology Transfer Network
A key player in the transfer of NASA technology is the National
Technology Transfer Center (NTTC) <http://www.nttc.edu>.
The NTTC, located at Wheeling Jesuit College in Wheeling, West
Virginia, is an integrated resource for accessing federally-funded
research and development and other information. The NTTC offers
a free service, known as the Gateway, through which the private
sector can maintain person-to-person contacts in the federal
laboratory system. The Gateway provides a direct link to many
resources, including technical reports, technologies, and facilities
at NASA and other federal laboratories.
The NTTC is also responsible for administering NASA TechTracS
<http://technology.nasa.gov>,
which provides access to NASA's technology inventory and numerous
examples of the successful transfer of NASA-sponsored technology
for commercialization. TechFinder, the main feature of the Internet
site, allows users to search the technologies and success stories,
as well as submit requests for additional information. All NASA
field centers submit information to the TechTracS database as
a means of tracking technologies that have potential for commercial
development.
Since their inception in January 1992, the six NASA-sponsored
Regional Technology Transfer Centers (RTTCs) have helped U.S.
businesses investigate and utilize NASA and other federally-
funded technologies for commercial companies seeking new products,
improvements to existing products, or solutions to technical
problems. The RTTCs provide technical and business assistance
to several thousand customers every year.
 |
| The
National Technology Transfer Center is located on the campus
of Wheeling Jesuit College in Wheeling, West Virginia. |
The network of RTTCs is divided up as follows:
Far West (AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, NV, OR, WA):
The Far West Regional Technology Transfer Center (FWRTTC)
<http://www.usc.edu/dept/engineering/TTC/NASA>
is an engineering research center within the School of Engineering
at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Using
the Remote Information Service to generate information from hundreds
of federal databases, FWRTTC's staff works closely with businesses
and entrepreneurs to identify opportunities, expertise, and other
necessary resources. The FWRTTC enhances the relationships between
NASA and the private sector by offering many unique services,
such as the NASA On-line Resource Workshop, NASA Tech Opps, and
links to funding and conference updates.
Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV):
The Mid-Atlantic Technology Applications Center (MTAC)
<http://oracle.mtac.pitt.edu/WWW/MTAC.html>
is located at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. MTAC
has designed TechScout, a highly specialized set of matchmaking
services, created to help companies locate technologies, as well
as technical expertise, within NASA and the federal laboratory
system. Close relationships with the Goddard Space Flight Center
and the Langley Research Center allow MTAC to help the U.S. improve
its competitiveness.
Mid-Continent (AR, CO, IA, KS, MO, MT, ND, NE, NM,
OK, SD, TX, UT, WY):
The Mid-Continent Technology Transfer Center (MCTTC)
<http://www.tedd.org/MCTTC>,
under the direction of the Technology and Economic Development
Division of the Texas Engineering Service, is located in College
Station, Texas. The MCTCC, which provides a link between private
companies and federal laboratories, reports directly to the Johnson
Space Center. The assistance focuses on high-tech and manufacturing
companies that need to acquire and commercialize new technology.
Mid-West (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI):
The Great Lakes Industrial Technology Center (GLITeC)
<http://www.battelle.org/glitec>,
managed by Battelle Memorial Institute, is located in Cleveland,
Ohio. GLITeC works with industries primarily within its six-state
region to acquire and use NASA technology and expertise, especially
at the Glenn Research Center. Each year, over 500 companies work
with GLITeC and its affiliates to identify new market and product
opportunities. Technology-based problem solving, product planning
and development, and technology commercialization assistance
are among the services provided.
Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI, VT):
The Center for Technology Commercialization (CTC)
<http://www.ctc.org>
is a non-profit organization, based in Westborough, Massachusetts.
Covering New England, New York, and New Jersey, the CTC currently
has seven satellite offices that form strong relationships with
the Northeast industry. Operated by the CTC, the NASA Business
Outreach Office stimulates business among regional contractors,
NASA field centers, and NASA prime contractors.
Southeast (AL, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN):
The Southern Technology Applications Center (STAC)
is headquartered at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
Working closely with the Marshall Space Flight Center, the Kennedy
Space Center, and the Stennis Space Center, STAC helps to spur
economic development in each of the nine states in the southeast.
To facilitate the transfer of NASA technologies and expertise,
the three NASA centers and STAC formed the NASA Southeast Technology
Alliance.
NASA Incubator Programs
Nine NASA incubators are included within this network of programs.
They are designed to nurture new and emerging businesses with
the potential to incorporate technology developed by NASA. They
offer a wide variety of business and technical support services
to increase the success of participating companies.
The Ames Technology Commercialization Center (ATCC)
<http://ctoserver.arc.nasa.gov/small-business-benefits.html>,
located in San Jose, California, provides opportunities for
start-up companies to utilize NASA technologies. The center uses
a lab-to-market approach that takes the technological output
of Ames' labs and pairs that technology with appropriate markets
to create and foster new industry and jobs. The incubator helps
businesses and entrepreneurs find NASA technology with commercial
potential, then provides access to a network of business experts
in marketing, sales, high-tech management and operations, financing,
and patent and corporate law. The ATCC also offers low-cost office
space and other start-up services.
BizTech of Huntsville, Alabama, is a small business incubator, offering
participating companies access to services at Marshall Space
Flight Center laboratories for feasibility testing, prototype
fabrication, and advice on technology usage and transfer. BizTech
is sponsored by the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce.
The Emerging Technology Center (ETC) <http://www.etcbaltimore.com/>,
located in Baltimore, Maryland, is among the newest of the NASA-affiliated
incubators. Partnering institutions include the Goddard Space
Flight Center and area universities and colleges.
The Florida/NASA Business Incubator Center (FNBIC)
is a joint partnership of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Brevard
Community College, and the Technological Research and Development
Authority. The mission of FNBIC is to increase the number of
successful technology-based small businesses originating in,
developing in, or that relocated to Brevard County. FNBIC offers
support facilities and programs to train and nurture new entrepreneurs
in the establishment and operation of developing ventures based
on NASA technology.
The Hampton Roads Technology Incubator (HRTI) <http://www.hr-incubator.org>
identifies and licenses NASA Langley Research Center technologies
for commercial use. HRTI's mission is to increase the number
of successful technology-based companies originating in, developing
in, or relocating to the Hampton Roads area.
The Lewis Incubator For Technology (LIFT) <http://www.liftinc.org>,
managed by Enterprise Development, Inc., provides outstanding
resources for technology and support to businesses in the Ohio
region. Its primary objectives are to create businesses and jobs
in Ohio and to increase the commercial value of NASA knowledge,
technology, and expertise. LIFT offers a wide range of services
and facilities to the entrepreneur to increase the probability
of business success.
The Mississippi Enterprise for Technology is sponsored
by NASA and the Mississippi University Consortium and Department
of Economic and Community Development, as well as the private
sector. The mission of the Enterprise is to help small businesses
utilize the scientific knowledge and technical expertise at the
Stennis Space Center. A significant part of this effort is Stennis'
Commercial Remote Sensing Program (CRSP), which was formed to
commercialize remote sensing, geographic information systems,
and related imaging technologies.
The NASA Commercialization Center (NCC) <http://www.nasaincubator.csupomona.edu/>,
run by California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, is a
business incubator dedicated to helping small businesses access
and commercialize Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and Dryden
Flight Research technologies.
The UH-NASA Technology Commercialization Incubator
is a partnership between NASA's Johnson Space Center and the
University of Houston. The incubator is designed to help local
small and mid-sized businesses commercialize space technology.
The University of Houston houses the program and provides the
commercialization and research expertise of its business and
engineering faculties.
Other organizations devoted to the transfer of NASA technology
are the Research Triangle Institute (RTI) and the MSU
TechLink Center.
RTI <http://www.rti.org>,
located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, provides a
range of technology management services to NASA. RTI performs
technology assessments to determine applications and commercial
potential of NASA technology, as well as market analysis, and
commercialization and partnership development. RTI works closely
with all of NASA's Commercial Technology Offices.
The MSU TechLink Center <http://www.
montana.edu/techlink>, located at Montana State University-Bozeman,
was established in 1997 to match the technology needs of client
companies with resources throughout NASA and the federal laboratory
system. TechLink focuses on a five-state region that includes
Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota, and North Dakota. Working
closely with public, private, and university programs, TechLink
provides ongoing support in the process of adapting, integrating,
and commercializing NASA technology.
Affiliated Organizations, Services, and Products
To compliment the specialized centers and programs sponsored
by the NASA Commercial Technology Program, affiliated organizations
and services have been formed to strengthen NASA's commitment
to U.S. businesses. Private and public sector enterprises build
upon NASA's experience in technology transfer in order to assist
the channeling of NASA technology into the commercial marketplace.
The NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Program <http://sbir.gsfc.nasa.gov/>
provides seed money to U.S. small businesses for developing innovative
concepts that meet NASA mission requirements. Each year, NASA
invites small businesses to offer proposals in response to technical
topics listed in the annual SBIR Program Solicitation. The NASA
field centers negotiate and award the contracts, and monitor
the work.
NASA's SBIR Program is implemented in three phases:
· Phase I is the opportunity to establish the
feasibility and technical merit of a proposed innovation. Selected
competitively, NASA Phase I contracts last six months and must
remain under specific monetary limits.
· Phase II is the major research and development
effort, which continues the most promising of the Phase I projects
based on scientific and technical merit, results of Phase I,
expected value to NASA, company capability, and commercial potential.
Phase II places greater emphasis on the commercial value of the
innovation. The contracts are usually for a period of 24 months
and again must not exceed specified monetary limits.
· Phase III is the process of completing the
development of a product to make it commercially available. While
the financial resources needed must be obtained from sources
other than the funding set aside for the SBIR, NASA may fund
Phase III activities for follow-on development or for production
of an innovation for its own use.
The SBIR Management Office, located at the Goddard Space Flight
Center, provides overall management and direction of the SBIR
program.
The NASA Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)
Program <http://sbir.gsfc.nasa.gov/>
awards contracts to small businesses for cooperative research
and development with a research institution through a uniform,
three-phase process. The goal of Congress in establishing the
STTR Program was to transfer technology developed by universities
and federal laboratories to the marketplace through the entrepreneurship
of a small business.
Although modeled after the SBIR Program, STTR is a separate
activity and is separately funded. The STTR Program differs from
the SBIR Program in that the funding and technical scope is limited
and participants must be teams of small businesses and research
institutions that will conduct joint research.
The Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) for Technology
Transfer <http://www.federallabs.org>
was organized in 1974 to promote and strengthen technology transfer
nationwide. More than 600 major federal laboratories and centers,
including NASA, are currently members. The mission of the FLC
is twofold:
· To promote and facilitate the rapid movement
of federal laboratory research results and technologies into
themainstream of the U.S. economy.
· To use a coordinated program that meets the
technology transfer support needs of FLC member laboratories,
agencies, and their potential partners in the transfer process.
The National Robotics Engineering Consortium (NREC)
<http://cronos.rec.ri.cmu.edu>
is a cooperative venture among NASA, the city of Pittsburgh,
the state of Pennsylvania, and Carnegie Mellon's Robotics Institute.
Its mission is to move NASA-funded robotics technology to industry.
Industrial partners join the NREC with the goal of using technology
to gain a greater market share, develop new niche markets, or
create entirely new markets within their area of expertise.
The road to technology commercialization begins with the basic
and applied research results from the work of scientists, engineers,
and other technical and management personnel. The NASA Scientific
and Technical Information (STI) Program <http://www.
sti.nasa.gov> provides the widest appropriate dissemination
of NASA's research results. The STI Program acquires, processes,
archives, announces, and disseminates NASA's internal, as well
as worldwide, STI.
The NASA STI Program offers users such things as Internet
access to its database of over 3 million abstracts, on-line ordering
of documents, and the NASA STI Help Desk for assistance in accessing
STI resources and information. Free registration with the program
is available through the NASA Center for AeroSpace Information
(CASI).
For more than three decades, reporting to industry on any
new, commercially significant technologies developed in the course
of NASA research and development efforts has been accomplished
through the publication of NASA Tech Briefs <http://www.nasatech.com>.
The monthly magazine features innovations from NASA, industry
partners, and contractors that can be applied to develop new
or improved products and solve engineering or manufacturing problems.
Authored by the engineers or scientists who performed the original
work, the briefs cover a variety of disciplines, including computer
software, mechanics, and life sciences. Most briefs offer a free
supplemental Technical Support Package (TSP), which explains
the technology in greater detail and provides contact points
for questions or licensing discussions.
Aerospace Technology Innovation <http://nctn.
hq.nasa.gov/innovation/index.html> is published bimonthly
by the NASA Office of Aeronautics and Space Transportation Technology.
Regular features include current news and opportunities in technology
transfer and commercialization, aerospace technology and development,
and innovative research.
NASA Spinoff <http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/spinoff.html>
is an annual print and on-line publication featuring current
research and development efforts, the NASA Commercial Technology
Program, and successful commercial and industrial applications
of NASA.
 |
| The
Hampton Roads Technology Transfer Incubator helps area companies
in licensing NASA Langley Research Center technologies. |
|
