Innovative Partnership Programs

Since 1983, NASA’s SBIR/STTR Program has invested $62.6 million in Ohio’s small companies.

Glenn Research Center’s Technology Transfer & Partnerships Office (TTPO) is dedicated to forming partnerships that can positively contribute to—and benefit from—NASA’s research and development (R&D) and technology innovations For more information contact Ms. Needham at:Tel.  +1 (216) 433-2802.

The SBIR/STTR Program provides an opportunity for small (500 employees or less) high-tech companies to participate in NASA-sponsored R&D efforts in key technology areas. In STTR projects, the businesses partner with a research institution, such as a university.

Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) 

Excerpted from NASA literature.  

Technology Transfer is essential for a strong economy.

Kathleen K. Needham currently serves as the Chief of the Technology Transfer and Partnerships Office at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field (Glenn) in Cleveland.

Ms. Needham leads a cross-disciplined team whose goal is to maximize the value of the innovative and creative work performed at Glenn in support of their NASA mission. In this position Ms. Needham and her team use a number of mechanisms to accomplish their goal including implementation of NASA’s Innovative Partnerships Program at Glenn; execution and administration of NASA’s unique Space Act Agreement mechanism used to document collaborative activities; and recognition of Glenn inventors through NASA and commercial awards.

The Innovation Partnerships Program (IPP) promotes leveraged technology partnerships aimed at both bringing commercial technology into NASA and transferring NASA technology into the commercial sector. Tools used under this program include the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs as well as IPP seed fund collaborations, which are small, cost-shared, joint development partnerships.

Traditional technology transfer activities are also performed including intellectual property management from receipt and evaluation of invention disclosures through patent licensing; as well as co-development activities with non-NASA entities which have the potential to impact NASA programs.

Ms. Needham has served in this capacity since October, 2008, after a decade of prior work in technology transfer. She has a demonstrated passion for reducing bureaucracy as much as possible, establishing transparent processes and converting NASA-speak to more readily understood language.

She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, and has most recently focused her continuing education in both management and innovation through a variety of programs, including the Graduate School of Business Executive Education at Stanford. She is a recipient of the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, as well as numerous special act or service awards.

Kathleen K. Needham
08/12/2008

NASA