NASA Seeks New Approach to Tech Transfer

NASA has tried licensing its technologies, but hasn't been very successful in expanding its technology transfer program beyond a few licensees.

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/awst/2010/09/20/AW_09_20_2010_p77-254150.xml&headline=NASA%20Wants%20To%20Move%20Beyond%20Technology%20Auctions

There are several problems with its current approach:

1. Tech-push driven: Like universities, NASA is trying to push its basic research into the marketplace, which usually doesn't work since NASA technologies are designed for space flights, not earthly commercial applications. Moreover, tech-push approaches rarely work. Silicon Valley venture capitalists only succeed with about 10% of their portfolio companies, which are selected from thousands of business plans. If seasoned VCs cannot hit many successes, how can government managers do any better? It's mission impossible.

What NASA needs is more market- and user-driven demand. In Sweden, our Down-to-Earth Project with UmbilicalDesign.se and JIBS.se is working with companies, cities and schools that need to innovate and find space technologies a way to differentiate their products and services. For example, a white goods manufacturer had washing machine vibration problems and learned that the European Space Agency (ESA) had many solutions. Most organizations could benefit from the creative thinking and technologies from space researchers.

2. Brokers as bottlenecks: NASA and ESA use technology brokers, who are limited in the number of companies they can handle. Moreover, they do not want more competitors so few technologies can feasibly be licensed and commercialized at one time. Space agencies need to open up the licensing process by using the Internet and smartphone alerts, auctions and other business innovations to increase visibility and accelerate the process.

3. Lack of young people: Most space agency researchers and tech brokers are middle-aged professionals focused on existing businesses and industries. Few college students and postdocs, who are seeking careers and have access to the latest thinking and technologies, are invited to participate in identifying, brainstorming and commercializing space technologies. JIBS.se is one of the few examples.

4. Shortage of investors: ESA is partnering with a French venture capitalist (VC) to commercialize its technologies, but few VCs have jumped into the space commercialization business yet, mostly for developing commercial space vehicles, not sustainable earth applications where the market need is biggest.

NASA and ESA should work with VCs and sovereign funds to finance startups that want to commercialize space technologies for sustainable earth products and services. The Apollo Project, which stimulated chip and computer startups (i.e. leading to Silicon Valley), is a good example of the power of space tech commercialization. Not a bad return on investment; the electronics industry is over $500 billion a year.

So NASA has its work cut out. I hope Obama's commercialization policies is quickly expanded so the U.S. can create millions of exciting new jobs, especially for mid-career professionals and college graduates. If the U.S. could put men on the moon fifty years ago, we can put millions of Americans to work addressing climate change and other major challenges facing us.

America Wakes Up to Space Potential

The United States is suffering with 9.4% unemployment and is finally waking up to the potential of space commercialization as a way to jumpstart new job creation.

http://www.nilesstar.com/2010/09/19/global-american-space-as-a-business%E2%80%A6-is-america-ready/

Experts at the European Space Agency (ESA) estimate that each Euro generates 20x in new economic growth, double the 9x to 11x from high-tech investments. Space agencies worldwide spend $45 billion a year, which could generate $900 billion in new jobs, or 9 million jobs at year at US$100,000 per job. These are exciting, high-level jobs, not sweeping floors or serving tourists.

Obama and the Democrats are seeking new ways to create jobs. They should expand NASA's tech transfer programs and integrate them with K-16 education, job retraining programs and regional incubators. If the U.S. government did, we could give hope to millions of Americans and inspire other space agencies to do likewise.

African Americans and Space

Why should African Americans, let alone other Americans, worry about Obama's space program initiatives when they face serious unemployment problems on earth?

Simple, because space spending creates new knowledge that has benefitted everyone on earth. Examples: Chips were developed for small onboard computers for the Apollo Project, which stimulated Silicon Valley's chip and PC industries. NASA and other space agencies have developed thousands of technologies that have found their way into everyday life.

European Space Agency technology brokers estimate a 20x return for every Euro spent in space. If done properly, NASA's annual $19 billion would generate $380 billion in economic growth a year, or 3.8 million jobs annually, which would help get America back on its feet economically and employ lots of people, including African Americans.

Worldwide, space agencies spend $45 billion annually, which would generate $900 billion in growth, or 9 million new, exciting jobs a year. Not a bad return on investment. Now, will politicians wake up to the possibilities? Let hope so or we'll miss the opportunity to inspire and employ our burgeoning "Lost Generation" of unemployed college graduates who are giving up hope of pursuing wonderful careers.

Kennedy sent us on a mission to the moon. Obama and other world leaders can inspire and create jobs for this generation.

http://politic365.com/2010/08/11/%E2%80%9Clost-in-space%E2%80%9D-and-obama%E2%80%99s-vision-for-space-exploration/

Swedish Down-to-Earth Project

”Commercializing Space Technologies for a Sustainable Earth

Down to Earth is a Swedish ten-year initiative that targets current and
global challenges regarding energy, health care, transportation, water,
climate change and mega cities. The interdisciplinary project involves
solutions inspired by space technologies. The goal is industrial renewal,
job creation and sustainable growth, which requires new thinking and
methods. The space sector is an untapped source of know-how with
a great potential for technology transfer to Earth bound businesses.

The Down to Earth project started 2009 as a strategic partnership
between Jönköping International Business School and Umbilical
Design AB, to enhance this process by merging the power of space
innovation with strategies for sustainable development. Umbilical
Design is working with space technology transfer and outer space
design, and has project references with NASA, European Space Agency
and many sectors over the last ten years. JIBS works in partnership
with more than 200 universities all around the world and is one of
the world leading when it comes to research in entrepreneurship and
business renewal.

www.downtoearth.se

Contact:
Ebba Kierkegaard
ebba.kierkegaard@umbilicaldesign.se

NASA Spinoffs

For those interested in commercializing space technologies, NASA publishes Spinoff, an annual publication that features successfully commercialized NASA technologies. Since 1976, Spinoff has featured between 40 and 50 commercial products annually and maintains a searchable database of every technology published. http://www.sti.nasa.gov/spinoff/database

The NASA Innovative Partnerships Program works with the private sector to commercialize NASA technologies: http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/

NASA technologies are mostly untapped so this is an opportunity for companies and entrepreneurs seeking to develop innovative and sustainable products and services.

NASA Tech Transfer Program

Looking for new business opportunities related to space technologies?

NASA will issue an RFP for the NASA Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program to enable small businesses to compete for federal research and development awards. Submit proposals according to the NASA 2010 STTR solicitation.

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=34516

A Second Space Age?

Sputnik triggered a space race that stimulated massive amounts of research and investments in space and terrestrial technologies and industries. Will Obama's space commercialization policies do likewise?

Ironically, many Republicans congressmen and senators who normally oppose more government spending are opposed to Obama's latest commercialization efforts because it will trigger layoffs in their districts. This opposition, plus Sarbanes-Oxley and tougher rules on startups, will hurt the U.S. ability's to generate many new spinoff jobs at a time when jobs are the #1 concern of Americans.

How can Obama get out of this dilemma? Criticized for commercializing NASA, yet criticized for not creating enough new jobs. Perhaps Silicon Valley VCs can provide some help since they understand what's at stake.


http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Beginning-of-a-Second-Space-Age&id=4632374&opt=print

Bloom Box from NASA's Mission to Mars

The Bloom Box is one of the best reasons why space exploration is valuable. Some of the best innovations came from the Apollo Project. The Hubble telescope has provided new insights into space. Obama's proposal for space commercialization promises to trigger a flood of new innovations, which are needed to jumpstart the U.S. economy.

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2010/jun/29/a-new-power-source-in-the-valley/?local

ESA Satellite Navigation Competition

The European Space Agency (ESA) is giving prizes of million euros (about $1.3 million USD) in its European Satellite Navigation Competition to promote startups at its four incubators.

http://www.redorbit.com/news/space/1864274/european_competition_seeks_best_satnav_ideas/

ESA is ahead of NASA in promoting startups so the U.S. needs has some catching up to do.

Factiva to Publish Space Articles

The U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has chosen Factiva Inc. to receive international space-based leading news articles and business sources. NOAA's goal is to educate the public about space commercialization.

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=a686be931ce3252bbbf7a9093f449a24&tab=core&tabmode=list&=

DARPA Ideas for NASA Commercialization

DARPA's Autonomous Urban Challenge, a contest for remotely-controlled cars, has stimulated lots of innovative technologies and earth applications, such as open-pit mining vehicles described here by TORC Technologies. Future applications could be innovations for car, truck and bus systems.

http://engineeringtv.com/video/Commercializing-Autonomous-Vehi?page=2

NASA has a long history of tech transfers, but needs to ramp up its emphasis on sustainable earth applications like TORC, which will generate a lot more jobs than commercial space flight alone. European Space Agency experts estimate a 20x economic multiplier for each Euro of space spending, so the economic growth potential is enormous for NASA.

Senators Support Commercial Space

Several senators and my family friend, former Dept. of Transportation chief Norman Mineta, support commercial low-orbit space flight:

http://www.commercialspaceflight.org/?p=1218

For sustainable earth applications, the spaceports that would benefit from NASA and commercial spending on space flights will generate new jobs in support industries, including materials, IT, design, transport, and energy. The U.S. focuses on environmental impact statements (EIS), but needs to also consider impacts on aerospace and terrestrial job creation, which is probably the #1 concern of American citizens right now. How can the U.S. stimulate more new jobs from its NASA spending?

NASA Virtual World Lab

NASA researchers and engineers are collaborating in a new NASA CoLab in San Francisco using Second Life to create virtual worlds:

http://www.nasacolab.org/nasa-annual-budget-is-sacrificed-over-war_156

With cloud computing and mobile pads emerging fast, we will see educators, students, professionals and families creating and playing in virtual worlds, which would be excellent for communicating and collaborating in new ways. NASA CoLab reminds me of the first video games, which were slow and blocky, but rapidly progressed to photorealism that we know today.

In Sweden, JIBS.se is collaborating with UmbilicalDesign.se, a design adviser to NASA Houston and the European Space Agency, to commercialize space technologies for sustainable earth products and services. CoLab would be the ideal vehicle for engaging companies, schools, and cities who are collaborating with us.

Revising Export Controls

Unlike Canada, the U.S. has prevented space commercialization due to its fear of technology use for military purposes. The Toshiba incident, where critical propeller-grinding technology was leaked to the Soviets, heightened this fear during the 1980s.

http://acuriousguy.blogspot.com/2010/05/itar-foreign-policy-and-space-focused.html

Space commercialization will require legal reforms, perhaps even stricter rules, since the dual military/commercial use issues will not disappear, but will increase due to the spread of terrorism and nuclear know-how worldwide. China, Russia, Japan, Europe and the U.S. keep close reins on their space technologies for this reason so we are likely to see lively debate between business people and policymakers over the extent of space tech transfers to space and terrestrial applications. Balancing national security with sustainable commerce is probably the biggest issue facing the space industry.

Earth Spinoffs of Commercial Space Projects

Space commercialization primarily focuses on funding private companies to develop new and better launch vehicles for NASA, satellites and space tourism. Some experts forecast that this activity will lead to $700 million annually in sales.

If we use the ESA economic multipler estimate of 20x, this spending would generate up to $14 billion in economic growth. At $100,000 per new job, it could yield 140,000 exciting new jobs annually in additional sales in aerospace and terrestrial industries.

Obama's New Space Commercialization Program

Obama just announced his policies for promoting space technology commercialization. The $6 billion NASA budget will include $429 million next year and $1.9 billion over the next 5 years to modernize the Kennedy Space Center and space launch facilities in Florida. The goal is to stimulate new businesses, innovations and job creation.

http://blog.taragana.com/politics/2010/05/03/presidential-memoranda-task-force-on-space-industry-workforce-and-economic-development-32938/

European Space Agency (ESA) experts estimate a 15x to 20x economic multiplier for each Euro spent on space projects. Thus, Obama's policies could potentially generate up to $120 billion in new economic growth, or 1.2 million new jobs at $100,000 per job, if NASA optimizes its technology transfer programs.

Florida badly needs new jobs to counter its real estate collapse. Hopefully, the new NASA program will help boost the local economy and stimulate businesses elsewhere.

Electricity from Space Orbit

The U.S. National Security Space Office just released a report discussing the feasibility of beaming solar-generated electricity from space via lasers or microwaves to earth and recommending a test project.

While expensive and risky, the U.S. needs to test various solar generation technologies since we may make unexpected discoveries along the way that lead to totally new products and services. Besides electricity, would a solar satellite be useful for ultra broadband communications replacing current cellular networks? Until we experiment, it's hard to know. That's why space technologies are valuable; they open our minds to totally new ways to doing things.

http://www.solar-power-electrics.com/solar-power-electricity/electricity-from-orbit-the-case-for-r-d

China's Plans for Solar Power Satellites

Here's a useful summary of China's latest plans for solar power satellites. It appears that China wants to dominate solar power both on earth and in space.

http://blog.nss.org/?p=1805

Space Weather App for iPhone

Utah State University's Space Weather Center is scheduled to release v1.4.0 of “SpaceWx,” an iPhone app upgrade that includes real-time effects from the four major space weather domains: sun, solar wind, magnetosphere and neutral atmosphere/ionosphere.
A product for improved global radio communications will also be released.

We'll probably see more weather, mapping and imaging apps for the iPhone and Android from NASA and other space researchers.

https://economicdevelopment.usu.edu/htm/in-the-news/articleID=9464?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

NASA Blasts Jatropha Into Space

NASA’s “Alternative Energy Crops in Space” program is studying if microgravity can help Jatropha Curcas plant cells grow faster. Researchers hope to accelerate its growth for commercial use.

http://www.cmtevents.com/aboutevent.aspx?ev=101040&
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/science/jatropha.html

Texas Emerging Tech Fund

The Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF) is becoming one of the leading space tech commercialization funding sources, which will give it an advantage in Obama's NASA commercialization plans.

http://www.rdmag.com/News/2010/03/Policy-and-industry-1-8-Million-Investment-for-Commercialization-of-Chemical-Detector/

http://members.texasone.us/site/PageServer?pagename=tetf_homepage

Can Florida Become "Silicon Valley of Space"?

Florida is seeking to leverage Obama's space commercialization policies to generate interest in turning the I-4 corridor into the "Silicon Valley of Space."

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100429/OPINION/100428021/1006/NEWS01/Our+views++Space%E2%80%99s+%E2%80%98Silicon+Valley%E2%80%99

As one who has participated in the rise of Silicon Valley and advised a dozen other regions worldwide, here's what I think Florida should do:

- Organize annual conferences focused on commercializing space technologies for space travel as well as sustainable products and products on earth. Invite all space agencies, aerospace and space systems vendors, and companies interested in space technologies. JIBS.se, which is launching a "Down-to-Earth" project for sustainable earth applications, could help organize it through its 170 partner universities.

- Invite investors, both U.S. and foreign, to meet companies opening shop in Florida.

- Involve U.S. and foreign university researchers and students to explore ways to commercialize space technologies. Set up a Space Tech Commercialization business program with the top aerospace and business schools.

- Organize contests to award excellence in space tech commercialization and give out awards. Showcase the winners at the Space Museum in Washington D.C. and other science museums worldwide.

- Partner with other regions worldwide that are developing space industries.

- Organize a Space Technology Commercialization Consortium (STCC) to promote research, investments, and job creation

- Work with venture capital (VC), sovereign funds and other private equity groups to develop Space Technology Funds.

There are many other things that Florida could do to jumpstart its initiative. The key is to partner with investors, universities, industry organizations, and other regions to build a critical mass.

In the mid-1980s, I advised the Indian Consul General and an Indian software group (www.sipa.org) in Silicon Valley to help plan an Indian software industry in Bangalore, which wanted to be another Silicon Valley. I thought it would enjoy modest success, not the boom that resulted. So the morale is to aim high, collaborate and work hard.

Studying Alien Life for Biomimetic Design

Stephen Hawkings recently posted a commentary saying that alien life might threaten earth. One could argue that any adventurous, advanced civilization has its share of aggressive traits, along with its curiosity or need to find new places to live. What if it wants to cohabitate? Would our defensive instincts lead to war just as it did with Native Americans?

http://www.lockergnome.com/cellphones/2010/04/26/hawkings-warns-of-extraterestrial-life-contact/

Beyond this pure speculation, studying alien life forms is a topic for NASA's Astrobiology Center, for which I helped plan the public-private partnership approach. For the mission to Mars, NASA is asking "What is life?" and "Will recognize it when we get there?" Perhaps Martian life will be totally unlike that on earth. It could come in different shapes, sizes and materials; it could be an electrical pulse.

Marine biologists studying life in deep thermal vents give us a look at other unfamiliar forms of life on earth. These studies, combined with astrobiology, could open totally new fields of study.

What is the usefulness of astrobiology for sustainable earth applications? Today, many designers look at biomimetics -- the study of life forms and functions -- for new product design concepts. Just as airplane designers looked to birds for wing design, perhaps astrobiology will lead to new biomimetic design concepts. Perhaps a future ET and its spaceship will help us design next-generation space vehicles and communications systems.

Europe's Down-to-Earth Commercialization

NASA has always been a political football from the days of President Kennedy's speech to the siting of the Houston command center and the Alabama site for the Ares I vehicle.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/23/science/23nasa.html?hpw

Space commercialization for space exploration as well as sustainable earth applications will be no different, but this time companies and venture funds will be tussling with NASA officials for funding.

The European Space Agency (ESA) recently announced plans to commercialize its technologies for sustainable earth applications, which puts it ahead of NASA in working with investors and entrepreneurs.
http://www.parabolicarc.com/2010/03/30/esa-investment-forum-2010-aims-generate-business-opportunities/

NASA needs more entrepreneurs and investors, not more gravy-train politicians, to pioneer the next breakthroughs.

Hubble's Commercial Spinoffs

The Hubble telescope celebrates its 20th anniversary. Besides opening our eyes to the wonders of space, it has spawned new technologies with major benefits for earth. Among them:

- Sharper CCDs for detecting breast cancer:
http://ipp.nasa.gov/innovation/Innovation35/Hubble.html

- The Globalstar worldwide, satellite-based phone system
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/01/990118075743.htm

- Hubble IMAX CD cinema at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex:
http://nssflorida.org/2010/03/23/hubble-imax-3d-comes-to-ksc/

- Early specifications issued to lithium battery manufacturers:
www.battcon.com/PapersFinal2007/ScuillaPaper2007.pdf

- New composite materials for lightweight equipment carriers made in Virginia:
Super Lightweight Interchangeable Carrier (SLIC)

- New theories about time, matter and space from our discovery of new phenomena in the universe, which will influence the direction of future scientific and technological research on earth.

There are many more technology spinoffs from the Hubble project, both potential and already commercialized, which indicates the value of this project.

Space Commercialization Event in San Francisco

Space commercialization, mostly for launch vehicles and space exploration, is heating up. Intelius CEO and Founder Naveen Jain joined a distinguished panel of speakers to discuss the future of space commercialization at The Churchill Club, which focused primarily on NASA's plan to outsource launch vehicles to companies.

Highlights from the panel from the perspective of sustainable earth applications:

- "Real commercialization will be solving problems on earth." Commercializing space will introduce innovations that will provide solutions for earth. Moreover, it will raise our awareness. Carl Sagan noted that by studying other planets, we will appreciate our earth more, such as studying Mars' dusty, CO2-laden atmosphere has raised awareness about global warming.

- A recent survey found that the U.S. public supports earth-focused NASA programs for protection from asteroids (52%) and protection of the environment (48%), but only 22% knew about the new NASA policies. A July 2009 Gallup poll found 60% of the public suppports NASA space programs: http://www.gallup.com/poll/121736/majority-americans-say-space-program-costs-justified.aspx. In short, the American public supports, but doesn't care about space exploration, except for its benefits for earth.

- New vaccines and materials produced in space may benefit medicine and other fields. UCSF is using space technologies in its intensive-care unit.

- Singularity University studied nanosats (tiny satellites), which could cost 1/1000 of the price of current satellites and have major terrestrial benefits.

- Tele-presence technologies developed for space flight will enable people on earth to immerse themselves, experience space virtually, and leave messages for posterity.

- The X-Prize offers prizes for ocean exploration (deep submarines, mapping, biodegradable plastics), environment, life sciences and education.

- To get the American public excited again about space, we need to get Oprah and other celebrities beyond NASA's new policies. Peter Diamandis, President/CEO of X Prize Foundation, said: "Potentially, it's a new day for space."

NASA's new commercialization policies are positive since they will untap the ingenuity, energy and investments of American entrepreneurs and investors. Although focused on space vehicles, these policies will accelerate investments on sustainable earth applications, especially since the American public is so adamant about benefits for the earth.

For details:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/04/prweb3900034.htm

Sustainable Earth Applications

President Obama's new NASA policies could could stimulate the "next new thing" -- space tech commercialization on a massive scale for sustainable earth uses, not just space travel.

A European Space Agency (ESA) technology broker estimates that ESA generates about 15X to 20X for each Euro of space spending. The world's space agencies spend about $250 billion annually, which could generate up to $5 trillion in new economic growth if the agencies worked more closely with venture capitalists and companies to commercialize space technologies. At US$100,000 per job, they could create up to 50 million new jobs per year, which would have an enormous impact on the global economy.

ESA just set up a venture fund with a European VC. Last year, NASA Ames partnered with a NY City fund to invest in nanotechnologies, so space tech is emerging as a new area of venture capital (VC) funding.

The major challenge is overcoming bureaucratic obstacles and regulations. The mission of space agencies is space exploration, but taxpayers want to see more tangible down-to-earth benefits from their tax dollars -- new jobs, products and services.

Inspiration from space is the key. The Apollo Project inspired Apple Computer and others to develop personal computers, which stimulated the chip industry, which led to the rise of Silicon Valley -- not a bad investment for going to the moon. These Silicon Valley companies did not have to license NASA technologies, but were inspired to develop their own versions. It was NASA's vision and thinking that influenced them.

Given the global recession, I'd like to see space agencies take a stronger leadership role in inspiring young people, creating new jobs, and stimulating sustainable products and services. Then taxpayers would finally see the benefits of their hard-won money. We went to the moon. Obama now wants to go to Mars. I want our Mars mission to create the next Silicon Valleys on earth.

I'm partnering with JIBS.se, a Swedish international business school, on space tech commercialization projects where we're helping Swedish companies, municipalities and schools apply space technologies and thinking to develop new down-to-earth, sustainable products and services. We invite you to join us!

Contact me at: sheridan at dreamscapeglobal.com