Contact the NASA in Silicon Valley Partnerships Office

NASA in Silicon Valley inspires the world through discovery and innovation while 

leading worldwide partnerships and growing new commercial markets to serve 

NASA for the benefit of humanity.

International agreements map

Over the past year we have initiated partnerships with the following international partners:

Technion Israel Institute of Technology

NASA And Technion university are collaborating on fundamental research under a joint project titled “Fluidic 

Telescope Experiment (FLUTE).” FLUTE aims to revolutionize space-based astronomy by developing a new 

method for fabricating high-quality optical components in space using fluidic shaping and taking advantage of 

the microgravity environment. The method may eventually lead to space telescopes with lenses or mirrors 

measuring in tens or even hundreds of meters in diameter, allowing, for instance, direct, high-resolution observations of planets around other stars (the primary mirror of the most advanced current space telescope, the 

James Webb Space Telescope, is only 6.5 meters in diameter). Such observations would, in turn, help answer 

questions about the composition and climate of such planets and — likely of most interest — whether life 

currently exists on them or may have existed in the past. 

Von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics Research (VKI)

NASA and VKI have a mutual interest in conducting joint research to advance their respective Entry Systems 

Modeling (ESM) capabilities. Under this Agreement, the NASA and VKI are advancing fundamental research 

related to four ESM research topics: material response, aerothermodynamics, radiation, and magnetohydrodynamics. The Parties intend to conduct this joint research through a series of joint discussions, tutorials, training, 

and data and software model exchanges, resulting in joint ESM related technical publications. 

German Aerospace Center (DLR) 

DLR and NASA in Silicon Valley are collaborating to advance their respective computing quantum computing 

capabilities. The focus is on developing quantum computing tools for assessing the potential of quantum computing for space exploration applications. Specifically, both groups expect to jointly develop a software library 

to be used for space exploration applications. The library consists of a collection of software tools for the 

implementation of quantum algorithms. 

Tohoku University 

NASA in Silicon Valley’s Rotor Optimization for the Advancement of Mars Exploration (ROAMX) team are 

collaborating with Tohuku University for the testing of new airfoils specifically designed and optimized for 

mars rotorcrafts. This agreement enables NASA to test these new airfoils in a variety of conditions in Tohuku’s 

unique Mars wind tunnel. The resulting data will benefit NASA and Tohoku by helping to validate the computational results of the optimized blades and explore how to simultaneously achieve increase in predicted performance of vehicle design while maintaining structural integrity.

International Agreements

Ames has formed several partnerships to help the 

wildfire community expand detection tracking, surveillance, and prediction. A new initiative called FireSense

includes a Project Office at Ames and partnerships 

with USFS and NIFC to help first responders combat 

wildfires through use of stratospheric platforms for 

long endurance unscrewed aircraft.

Ames is leading these projects with funding from 

the Airborne Science Program and the NASA Flight 

Opportunities Program to demonstrate the use of 

station-keeping high altitude balloons for providing 

imagery and communications over fires. These are 

part of the Agencies new initiative called the NASA 

Wildfire Initiative (WFI).

Fire Sense

The NASA Experience exhibit at Chabot Space & Science 

Center in Oakland, California serves as a new visitor center for NASA’s Ames Research Center and provides a dynamic and interactive space for the public to learn more 

about local contributions to space exploration across the 

years. From models of spacecraft and genuine spacesuits 

from early missions to artifacts related to NASA’s recent 

Artemis mission.

Ames’ expertise in wind tunnel testing, rover design and 

testing, space robotics, supercomputing, and more is on 

display. It also highlights the people of Ames, with interactive ways of learning about the stories that brought scientists, engineers, artists, and more from across the world to 

work for NASA in Silicon Valley. 

Chabot Space & Science Center

UC Berkeley has signed a 99 year agreement with NASA in Silicon Valley to lease 36 acres of land to develop 

a new campus focused on aerospace engineering. The new campus will include up to 1.4 million square feet of 

space for classroom instruction, research laboratories, and student housing. The UC Office of the President 

envisions this as a hub for collaborative research involving UC Berkeley as well as other UC campuses, NASA 

and other government agencies, and private partners. While it will take approximately 6 years to build the 

new campus (in phases), NASA Ames and UC Berkeley have started to develop more joint research projects as 

both institutions recognize there are immediate benefits that can be gained when the two organization work 

together. Read more about the satellite university campus here!

UC Berkeley Campus Coming Onsite!

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Space Act Agreements 

Executed

View Agreement List!

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Small Business/Technology 

Contracts Awarded

View Success Stories!

$1,985,762

Small Business Contracts

Awarded

What are SBCs?

$367,797

Patent & Copyright Royalty 

Income Received

What are NASA Patents?

$19,178,261

Generated from Space Act 

Agreements

What are SAAs?

A Sustainable Plastic Alternative

Recycling and reducing waste are two important operational goals for NASA—both in space and on Earth. Mango 

Materials partnered with the Colorado School of Mines 

on NASA STTR awards to adapt an end-to-end bioreactor 

system that produces biopolymer (bioplastic) from methane 

gas for low-gravity environments. 

In space, methane from carbon dioxide conversion systems 

and waste treatment can be used to 3D print objects and 

provide polymers for construction and moon dust binding. 

On Earth, the system can convert methane—a greenhouse 

gas—into environmentally conscious bioplastic. Mango 

Materials received $6 million through NASA CCRPP, including funds from fashion investors seeking alternatives to 

plastic-based textiles. Read more about our current climate 

change research.

Fungi Food

As we continue to expand humanity’s potential for habitation away from Earth, NASA seeks innovative and sustainable sources of food that can be easily produced with 

minimal resources. 

Nature’s Fynd partnered with Montana State University 

on NASA STTR awards to cultivate edible protein source

in micro-gravity conditions. A biofilm-biomat reactor, 

which cultivates a unique fungus to form a dense protein 

material. The resulting “biomat” could serve as a nutritious 

food source for life away from Earth. Nature’s Fynd has 

received external investments totaling more than $500 

million for developing its technologies, and the company 

recently launched its meatless and dairy-free foods in 

specific retailers. 

Can we make a Telescope out of Liquid?

This question fueled the Fluidic Telescope Experiment 

(FLUTE) program which was designed to investigate using 

liquids to construct telescope lenses. Ed Balaban from 

NASA Ames initiated this concept through a Center 

Innovation Fund Award, and now serves as the lead PI 

with our international Partners at Technion and the Israel 

Space Agency.

FLUTE may one day revolutionize the materials we use 

to build larger, more powerful space telescopes that peer 

far into the universe’s origins. The larger the telescope the 

more astronomers can peer farther into space and see 

distant objects in greater detail. 

Fluidic Telescope Experiment (FLUTE)

Ames Partnerships Office 

Annual Report 2022

Areas of Growth in 2023

As we adjust to the new normal in aftermath of the 

global pandemic, it is evident that NASA can do so 

much more with its partners than on our own. From 

small businesses and large technology companies to 

international governments and local Bay Area municipalities, NASA is joining with its partners to explore 

the secrets of the universe for the benefit of all. 

In the coming year, we are specifically looking to grow 

our partnerships in several technology sectors:

Emerging aeronautics (X-Planes, UTM/ATM Integration, Autonomy for Aviation) with an emphasis on 

advanced air mobility and sustainable aviation.

Disaster mitigation and climate resilience, including 

wildfire research with integration of airborne Earth 

Science capabilities.

Astrobiology, life detection, and biosciences, including development of new science instruments for 

spaceflight missions.

Building the lunar and space economy to strengthen 

science and exploration.

Office Director for Strategic Partnerships,

Matthew C, Buffington

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Currently NASA in Silicon Valley is preparing to submit 

their Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility (DEIA) 

Implementation Plan in accordance with the Racial Equity 

Executive Order and NASA’s DEIA Strategic Plan. Here are 

the following actions that were specifically assigned to our 

office: 

Establish strategic partnerships and cultivate 

current ones with MSIs, minority-owned 

businesses, non-profit organizations, and other 

small businesses. 

Identify contacts and develop partnerships to 

ensure solicitation notifications are sent to 

Black owned companies, HBCUs, and Black 

organizations

Increase engagement and collaborations with 

Native American and Indigenous Communities, including Ohlone Tribe and other local 

tribes. 

Incorporating DEIA

Source: Dream to Reality Comic

Ames Partnerships Team!

Ashley McQueen

Partnerships Development & Agreements 

Division Chief

“Relationship building is the core of any partnership 

and one that has contributed to many successes at 

NASA Ames.”

Agreements Office 

Kimberly Hines

Technology Transfer Office Chief

“Technology Transfer is truly a partnership with Ames 

innovators, protecting and promoting IP. Together, 

per capita of scientists and engineers, Ames leads the 

agency in issuing licenses for NASA technologies.”

Technology Transfer Office

Carlos Torrez

SBIR/STTR Program Manager

“Whether your destination is the Marketplace, the 

Moon, or Mars–let us help you get there.”

SBIR/STTR Office

Brenden Sanborn

Deputy Director

“Turning red tape into red carpet!”

Partnerships Office

Porous Microstructure Analysis (PuMA)

Winner of 2022 Software of the Year award

“Porous Microstructure Analysis (PuMA)” - computes effective material properties and performs material response simulations on digitized microstructures of porous media. PuMA is able to import digital three-dimensional images obtained from X-ray microtomography or to generate artificial microstructures that mimic real 

materials. PuMA also provides a module for interactive 3D visualizations. Version 3 includes modules to compute simple morphological properties such as porosity, volume fractions, pore diameter, and specific surface 

area. Additional capabilities include the determination of effective thermal and electrical conductivity (including 

the ability to simulate local anisotropy), effective diffusivity and tortuosity from the continuum to the rarefied 

regime, and techniques to determine local material orientation.

TEAM: Arnaud Borner, Joseph C. Ferguson, Sergio Fraile Izquierdo, Nagi N. Mansour, Jeremie B.E. Meurisse, 

Francesco Panerai, Federico Semeraro, John M. Thornton

NASCENT

Winner of 2021 FLC Far West Region “Outstanding Technology Development” Award 

National Airspace System Constraint Evaluation and Notification Tool (NASCENT) - is a dynamic constraint 

avoidance system that automatically analyzes routes of aircraft flying, or to be flown, in or near constraint 

regions and attempts to find more time and fuel efficient reroutes around current and predicted constraints. 

NASCENT provides an evaluation of avoidance routes that save more than a user-specified number of minutes 

of wind-corrected flying time savings, for all the 20 Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs or Centers) in 

the National Airspace System (NAS) simultaneously. The dynamic constraint avoidance route system continuously analyzes all flights and provides reroute advisories that are dynamically updated in real time. This system 

includes a graphical user interface that allows users to visualize, evaluate, modify if necessary, and implement 

proposed reroutes.

TEAM: Karl Bilimora, Paul Borchers, Alexis Clymer, Kaj Edholm, Heinz Erberger, Sabastian Gutierrez-Nolasco, 

Jennifer Lock, Dave McNally, Alexander Morando, Scott Sahlman, Kapil Sheth, Fu-Tai Shih

So what happened this year? What do these numbers mean?

NASA Technology Transfer System

Winner of 2022 Government Invention of the Year award, NASA Technology Transfer System (NTTS)

The NASA Technology Transfer System (NTTS) is an enterprise software tool developed in-house for STMD’s Technology Transfer Program, which aims to find the widest possible applications for NASA technology 

through partnerships and licensing agreements with industry, academia, and other U.S. governmental agencies.

NTTS contains over 60,000 technologies supporting all ten NASA field centers and Headquarters. The tool 

provides a comprehensive suite of data systems, web-enabled applications, and infrastructure for both NASA 

personnel and external users from private companies, academia, and other federal, state, and local government 

agencies to request technology licenses from NASA. It facilitates and streamlines the entire technology transfer process, including the reporting of new technologies, protecting intellectual property, and commercializing 

technologies through various technology licenses, software releases, spinoffs, partnerships, and success stories.

NTTS is the 2022 Invention of the Year winner in the government category. NTTS has enabled NASA to 

execute more technology license agreements than ever before, breaking the agency’s annual record with 211 

licenses executed in 2021. More licenses mean more opportunities for commercial products or services to 

be created in the forms of spinoffs that help protect the planet, create jobs, boost the economy, and even save 

lives NTTS has been transferred via software usage agreements to 11 U.S. federal agencies.

TEAM: Jairon Moh-hashim Camarillo, Ronald Instrella, Takeshi Okimura, Peter B. Tran, Vu Hoang Tran, Anh Ngoc 

Trinh

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Patent & Copyright 

License Agreements Executed

Software Releases

View Software Catalog!

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