NASA innovation prizes – liveblogging from #pfgov

Centennial Challenges
NASA prizes for the citizen inventor
Diana Palmer Hoyt
Manager, Strategic Planning
Innovative Partnerships Program, NASA HQ

Why does NASA offer prizes / challenges?
Because what we do is very difficult, and we’re looking for heroic solutions to the grand challenges of our vision. Well-executed, smart Prize programs hold the promise to deliver the heroic solutions.

Prizes are difficult to do well. And you want to do them well.
A well done prize-competition stimulates real solutions for real needs, innovation, passion, competency.

About challenges and prizes
A seeker or offeror identifies a particular problem and asks solvers to propose solutions.

Stages of innovation:
ideas
theoretical design
proof of concept
reduction to practice
widespread adoption

Incentives for prize offer-ors
Identify the goal without having to choose the path or team that is most likely to succeed
attract new entrants
stimulate private sector investment
better solutions
in the case of prizes, only pay for performance
capture the public’s imagination and change the public’s perception of what is possible

Incentives for solvers
It’s about the heroic quest
innovation
reward of being first, best, etc.

Many Gov agencies offer challenges / prizes

Why does NASA offer prizes / challenges?
Because what we do is very difficult, and we’re looking for heroic solutions to the grand challenges of our vision.

Astronaut glove prize.
Winner was a sailmaker. A boat sail maker

Some info about the innovative partnerships division of NASA
Three main areas of thrust
Technology infusion
Technology transfusion
Innovation Incubator

12 mil distributed between six Challenges
13 competitions held since 2005, 5 planned for 2009
$700k awarded to date

Lessons learned
Issues:
engagement of nasa technologists
commercial sponsorship for Prize operating expenses — costs are high
events difficult to publicize
lack of competitors
framing challenge is not as easy as it looks

NYTimes Magazine, July — Astronaut Glove Challenge — good reading for challenges