After the success of offering I-Corps to teams funded through our small business programs, we’re excited to expand this commercialization training opportunity to more science mission and space technology researchers. It’s a win-win for researchers and for us, creating pipelines to innovate and expand our industries of the future."

Jim Reuter
Associate Administrator for Space Technology Mission Directorate
As a professor at University of Michigan I witnessed first-hand the benefits of I-Corps while running one of the inaugural nodes. I saw how being a part of I-Corps can accelerate the pace of innovation, creating new opportunities for science, discovery, and entrepreneurship.”

Thomas Zurbuchen
Associate Administrator for Science Mission Directorate
The NASA Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Pilot is intended to provide support for participation in the National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps (I-Corps™) Program to train faculty, students in higher education, post-docs, and other researchers in innovation and entrepreneurship skills. The pilot employs training through courses to guide teams in the process of developing a business model while supporting teams as they explore the commercial potential of their research. NASA’s Science Mission Directorate and Space Technology Mission Directorate are partnering to expand the agency’s participation by leveraging the infrastructure of NSF’s I-Corps Program and National Innovation Network.
The goal of the NASA I-Corps Pilot is to give participants the opportunity to develop the following capabilities:
- Informed decision-making to facilitate research and/or technology transitions and new NASA funding opportunities.
- Facilitated focus and inspiration on the commercial potential of proposed research and/or technology.
- Advanced workforce development opportunities in science missions and space technology by preparing students with a foundational education in entrepreneurship.
- Enhanced entrepreneurial mindsets.
Applications for a new offering of the short courses will be available via the Interior Northeast I-Corps Hub in 2025, see https://www.in-icorps.org/ and NASA will continue partnering with NSF to support NASA-related teams selected to participate in the National I-Corps program. Interested teams must contact the NASA I-Corps point of contact and apply to NSF via http://new.nsf.gov/funding/initiatives/i-corps/national-teams-applicants
Questions may be directed to Kevin Johnson, kevin.d.johnston@nasa.gov.
Contact Us
Maggie Yancey
Entrepreneurship Development Lead
Margaret.A.Yancey@nasa.gov