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Volume 11, Number 1 • Spring 2003 • Technology Transfer

JPL Commercialization Center Opens for Business

Many technologies developed at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, CA, have skyrocketed on Earth due to strategic business alliances.

Other technologies will receive that opportunity since the grand opening of JPL’s Commercialization Center. The center will serve as a shop for US companies that would like to work with JPL’s Commercial Technology Program to develop and transfer technologies for public use.

“It will literally be the front door to companies that wish to work with us but who don’t know quite where to go,” said Debbie Avila, Team Lead of the Commercial Technology Program at JPL. “The Commercialization Center will provide information on JPL’s unique capabilities and technologies, expertise, research and development, and services geared toward business.”

On average, JPL reports nearly 300 innovations per year and roughly 150 new business partnerships.
“JPL is one of the special institutions that make this region different,” said Jack Kyser, senior vice president and chief economist of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation. “JPL is on the cutting edge of space exploration and expands our overall knowledge of technology that makes all our lives better.”

Among the grand opening festivities were an address by General Eugene Tattini, JPL Deputy Director, and a panel on partnering experiences moderated by Dr. Erik Antonsson, JPL Chief Technologist. The panel included representatives from companies that have collaborated with JPL, including Boeing, PhotoBit, E-Views Safety Systems and Dubbs & Severino.

The Commercialization Center will assist companies, based on their needs, with contacting the appropriate office, such as:

  • Licensing JPL technology—The Caltech Office of Technology Transfer is responsible for the licensing and transfer of technologies from the California Institute of Technology and JPL. In 2000, more than 120 patents were issued to Caltech.

  • Reimburseable tasks—Any US-owned organization can access JPL’s special technological expertise and specialized equipment through the

  • Commercial reimburseable program—This program is structured to provide technology transfer and customized help for developing new or improved products and manufacturing processes, where JPL does not compete with US industry.

  • Technology Cooperation Agreement—These agreements create dual-use technology development arrangements with no exchange of funds. JPL and its partner company leverage each other’s intellectual property and expertise for NASA goals and commercial use.

  • Small Business Technology Transfer—This program provides funding, on a competitive basis, to small businesses interested in undertaking research and technology development on the topics of interest identified by five US government agencies. Q

More information about the Commercialization Center is available at http://techtransfer.jpl.nasa.gov/index_flash.html. For information regarding NASA technology commercialization opportunities or to search for a
technology, visit http://technology.nasa.gov/

 
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