How to File a New Technology Report

    Reporting New Technologies

    Electronic New Technology Reporting (E-NTR)

    Whether you have an invention or an innovation, a discovery or an improvement, report it at E-NTR→ .








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    You may be surprised to know that every year a number of innovations at NASA centers are patented and commercialized. Some of these inventions have been incorporated into common items we use every day. These technologies bring value to the country, prestige to the center, and monetary rewards to the inventors. E-NTR is an easy step-by-step electronic reporting process used by NASA employees and contractors to disclose their inventions and new technologies.

    How to Get Started

    NASA Form 1679, “Disclosure of Invention and New Technology, including Software,” should be submitted online through E-NTR. To begin, go straight to the E-NTR login at https://ntr.ndc.nasa.gov/→ . A full explanation of when to report, how to report, and who is involved in the process is outlined.

    Submitting your disclosure is as easy as 1–2–3 using E-NTR’s step-by-step process:

    1. Click https://ntr.ndc.nasa.gov/→ 
    2. Log in
    3. Complete online NASA Form 1679
    4. Submit!

    What's In It for You?

    Innovators play an important role in NASA’s technology transfer and commercialization mission. There are several incentives available to inventors.

    Initial Awards

    • Publication in NASA Tech Briefs magazine→  for selected new technology reports—$350 per author
    • Software Release—$500 each multiple contributors/$1000 single contributor
    • Patent Application—$500 each multiple contributors/$1000 single contributor

    Space Act Awards

    • Based on the value of the contribution, both to NASA and to the public, Space Act Awards in amounts up to $100,000 are available.
    • These awards are approved by the NASA Inventions and Contributions Board→ . Prime candidates are technologies that have been patented/licensed. Contact your center’s Technology Transfer Office or Patent Office for assistance with completing the required form (NASA Form 1329, “Space Act Award Application”).
    • Annual “Software of the Year” and “Invention of the Year” Awards→  are subcategories of these special awards.

    Royalties for Licensed Patents

    • Royalties paid by licensees of NASA patents are shared with government inventors.

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    When to Report New Technology?

    Report new inventions, including software, to NASA as soon as possible after conception. There is no need to build or test the innovation prior to reporting, but you must provide a detailed description of the technology. You must report technologies before they are presented publicly at tradeshows and conventions and/or before publishing.

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    Why Report Your Invention?

    Reporting new technologies is essential to the achievement of NASA’s mission. This reporting process is the means through which advances in aeronautics and space technologies permeate the many sectors of the national economy. At the center level, new technology reporting ensures:

    • Identification of NASA’s valuable technology
    • Commercialization assessment and marketing analysis/assistance
    • Recognition and/or monetary compensation for the innovator
    • Intellectual property protection
    • Compliance with U.S. export control regulations
    • Agency performance reporting requirements

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    Who Should Report New Technologies

    NASA employees are REQUIRED to submit a disclosure for each invention resulting from their work as a government employee.

    (Authority: NPD 2091.1, “Inventions Made by Government Employees”)

    Parties performing experimental, developmental, or research work under NASA funding agreements (including contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements) are REQUIRED to submit new technology reports.

    [Authority: Small Businesses, Colleges, Universities, Non-Profit Organizations—Bayh-Dole Act (35 U.S.C. section 202), and Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) clause 52.227-11, Patent Rights Clause/’Subject Inventions’; Large Businesses—Space Act (42 U.S.C. section 2457) and NASA FAR Supplement clause 1852.227–70, New Technology Clause/’Reportable Items’; and 14 CFR Parts 1260 & 1274 (NPG 5800.1 “Grants and Cooperative Agreements Handbook”)]

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    More Information

    For more information about New Technology Reporting for civil service and contractor employees, contact one of your center representatives.

    Greg Poteat
    New Technology Representative
    Phone: (661) 276-3872
    E-mail: gregory.a.poteat@nasa.gov