NASA and Houston Technology Center (HTC) have announced the signing of a Space Act Agreement from the Johnson Space Center in Houston. The agreement provides the framework for expanding a multi-year partnership between the two organizations.
NASA and HTC will work together to advance their respective missions by pursuing activities in the areas of technical, educational and human resource disciplines. Both organizations have an extensive history of collaborating to advance the awareness of new technologies developed for use in space and for the benefit of emerging commercial enterprises in the greater Houston area.
"We are looking forward to developing this partnership even further, expanding our resources, and connecting with even more businesses through HTC – companies that ultimately could evolve into more NASA partners," said Michelle Brekke, director of the JSC Technology Transfer Office.
NASA and HTC will collaborate on various educational efforts, which will include providing assistance to members of the business community in the development of grant proposals, supplying information on how to expand their products with licenses, and fostering research and development products that ultimately could be used by NASA.
"HTC is privileged to have a close working relationship with NASA," said Walter Ulrich, President and CEO of Houston Technology Center. "In taking this partnership to a new level, we will connect business leaders with targeted NASA managers to address specific technology needs surrounding America's Vision for Space Exploration," he added.
The new Space Act Agreement includes the continuation of the unique "Executive on Loan" program in which NASA provides an executive to support HTC's business segments. NASA has been providing an on-site consultant to HTC, who serves as a Development Manager for technology companies wishing to commercialize NASA-originated technologies or extend use of commercial technologies to space applications.
