Saturday, July 31, 2010

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

Saturday, July 17, 2010

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.

Friday, July 16, 2010

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

Thursday, July 15, 2010

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