NASA Innovation Partnerships Program

Much of what we gain from our space exploration is in the scientific and technological progress that comes in the process of doing it. Many of those technologies are the direct result of NASA supported funding for both internal R&D projects performed at NASA centers and external research from the small business community. As a result of these expanding needs for new capabilities to explore space, NASA missions often result in technologies which have applications beyond aerospace. These technologies while targeted for integration into the mainstream NASA flight programs, can also be commercialized creating new marketplace products and provide opportunities for improving the quality of life for the American public right here on earth.


For NASA, Technology infusion is the process of strategically binding technical needs and potential solutions. These innovative solutions, be they hardware or software; enhancing or enabling; near-term or far-term; low Technology Readiness Level (TRL) or High TRL, NASA internally or externally developed; must all be managed through some aspect of transition from their originating source to the targeted challenges within NASA's programs and projects.


The IPP, Technology Infusion Element includes the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR), the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) and theIPP Seed Fund. Together these programs provide pathways from these originating sources to IPPs' technology portfolio, and provide enabling infrastructures that enhance the infusion of these technologies in NASA missions and programs. These programs allow the agency to implement successful technology infusion and receive benefits in the following ways:

  • Leverage limited program funds for technology development

  • Leverage partners' funds/investments to achieve NASA's research and development (R&D) goals

  • Avoid additional program cost by providing a portfolio of technology solutions

  • Accelerate technology maturation through concurrent Research and Development

  • Make informed decisions when selecting technologies for programs/projects/missions (i.e., better trade space information)

  • Increase the return on its R&D investment with additional marketplace applications of technologies (benefits for both NASA and the public.


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