US-based National Aeronautics and Space Administration, famously known as NASA, has launched a new initiative, Startup NASA, a technology transfer program that could end up benefitting thousands of startups all over the world. So, if you're a budding startup wanting to break through the crowd but don't know how, leave everything that you're doing right now and take note!
In order to boost new high-tech businesses, NASA is currently providing startups with the golden opportunity of licensing its technologies, that too, without paying any up-front costs. The startups have a choice to choose from a buffet of over twelve hundred patents (http://technology.nasa.gov/patents), which are further divided into 15 categories.
Commenting on the new initiative, NASA's chief technologist, David Miller, said, “The Startup NASA initiative leverages the results of our cutting-edge research and development so entrepreneurs can take that research — and some risks — to create new products and new services."
The technologies which are up for grabs include collapsible aeroplanes, handheld laser torches and multi-purpose humanoid robots etc.
Of course, there's a catch to this offer and all's not hunky dory. Firstly, the licences issued will not be exclusive, although the Space body will apparently be open to discussion on the same. Secondly, the patents can only be availed by startups who have an intention of commercialising these technologies. Further, While the startups don't have to pay an initial licensing fee or minimum fees for 3 years, those startups who successfully begin selling a product using the technologies will be required to pay standard net royalties to NASA.
View hot-100 NASA technologies with big commercial potential, available to you for licensing - Here
The startup initiative by NASA can be regarded as the space body's latest effort to share its research with the public. The government agency, in the past, has auctioned 12 of its nanotech patents and sold exclusive licences to companies like DynaDX etc.
So, whether you're planning to licensing a patent or not, my personal recommendation is, that the repository is absolutely worth exploring. In addition to containing downloadable fact sheets, it also contains information on the possible applications and benefits on ideas like nitrogen oxide emission control system etc.
So, if you're a startup with an aim of becoming the best in the tech genre, then what are you waiting for? This is for sure the golden opportunity and the break you were looking for all along.
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