NASA has recently announced the award of $93.5 million in funding to 107 innovative projects through its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. This initiative supports small businesses in the U.S. in developing technologies that contribute to NASA’s space and Earth missions.
Managed by NASA’s Ames Research Center in California, the SBIR program is designed to assist small firms with fewer than 50 employees. This year, 95 businesses received Phase II contracts, and each can receive up to $850,000 to develop their technology further. Additionally, these businesses could apply for an extra $50,000 to explore new market opportunities and plan their product’s future.
Jenn Gustetic, who leads Early Stage Innovation and Partnerships at NASA, expressed excitement over the diversity of the companies involved. “We are committed to fostering inclusive innovation,” she stated, highlighting that 29% of this year’s recipients are from underrepresented groups, with 11% owned by women.
One such recipient is nou Systems, Inc., a women-owned business based in Huntsville, Alabama. They are developing a new instrument for genetic testing that could be used anywhere, from remote Earth locations to other planets. This device aims to simplify DNA sequencing, which currently requires a lot of manual work and equipment.
Jason L. Kessler, program executive for NASA’s SBIR and STTR programs, explained that the collaboration with these companies helps generate valuable technologies not only for NASA but also for commercial markets. For instance, Boulder-based PickNik Inc. received funding to improve a robotic system that could reduce astronauts’ workload and be used in various industries on Earth, such as warehouse management and deep-sea exploration.
The SBIR program underscores NASA’s commitment to innovation and its benefits both in space and on Earth, empowering small businesses to bring their creative solutions to life.
