The strategy is for NASA in partnership with the private sector to initiate a set of pathfinder business ventures that can achieve profitable operations over the long run without public subsidies. These business pathfinders will break down public sector and market barriers in the near term and lead to economic expansion over the long run. To ensure that there will be adequate opportunities available for commercial uses, NASA has committed to set aside approximately 30 percent of the U.S. share of the ISS's research capacity for economic development. The Entrepreneurial Offer Entrepreneurial offers are private investment offers to NASA to open new, commercial, markets that are related to the ISS, without the benefit of government funds. Entrepreneurial offers are expected to be similar to a standard business plan with accompanying technical detail.
Companies retain the option to submit unsolicited proposals .
NASA has no currently appropriated funds, nor does NASA anticipate future appropriations, for funding commercial ventures. Intellectual property protection NASA has established policies to protect the proposer's intellectual property from initial contact through exit and final results. More details can be found in the Intellectual Property Guide . Pricing NASA has established a pricing policy designed to stimulate investment by industry in the development of space markets. The policy is based the market's perception of value.