Commercialization, Comms and Public Engagement

Commercialization

In an effort to support U.S. industry in a competitive global market, federal law mandates knowledge and technology by Federal agencies be transferred to U.S. consumers and businesses. All Federal agencies are required to have a technology transfer program and actively pursue the transfer of technology to the private sector for further development and commercial application.

NASA employees are required to report new inventions (e.g., new technologies, designs, or concepts) via a New Technology Report (NTR) online at http://invention.nasa.gov. Once the technology is reported, the Center Technology Transfer Office, the NASA patent counsel, and the inventor determine whether the same or similar technology already exists, what NASA's ownership rights are to the technology and the best way to commercialize it (e.g., through filing a patent application and pursuing a license).

NASA technologies available for licensing can be searched in the NASA Technology Transfer Portal at http://technology.nasa.gov. NASA software available for licensing can be searched in the NASA software catalog, http://software.nasa.gov. NASA technologies and software available for licensing are also discussed in NASA publications such as Tech Briefs Magazine or Spinoff Magazine.

Communications and Public Engagements

The Headquarters Office of Communication (OComm) and your Center communications office should be contacted early in the agreement process to ensure awareness.  They should also be consulted and coordinated with on any plans for public announcement. This includes:

• Any NASA partnership involving communication media, multimedia, public engagement and outreach, or other high visibility partnerships likely to result in media or public attention.

• Any film, TV, multimedia, and entertainment-oriented partnerships.

• Any coordination of partnerships announcement.

• Any announcements or products relating to a NASA partnership should be coordinated in the planning phase with your Center communications office, OComm, and appropriate Mission Directorate outreach office. For interagency or international activities, the Office of International and Interagency Relations should also be consulted.

Public, media, and social media products for the announcement or promotion of any partnership activity may take different forms. Determination of the format for a specific product will be made in coordination with OComm.

NASA Insignia (Logo) Use and Cobranding

• • Strict regulations govern the use of the NASA Insignia in accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR Part 1221) and the Space Act, as well as other laws and regulations. In general, NASA does not endorse any commercial product, activity, or service. Use of the NASA name, initials or NASA emblems — including the NASA Insignia, the logotype (retired in 1992 and also known as "the worm"), and the NASA Seal — must be reviewed and approved by the Associate Administrator for Communications or designee.

  • The use of NASA's Insignia by a partner under a partnership agreement must conform to the general rule that the Insignia is used to designate NASA property and NASA activities, and that NASA may not endorse a commercial activity. Partners are generally not permitted to use the NASA Insignia on their private Web site, on packaging for any commercial products, or on promotional materials, because those are contrary to permitted uses under regulation and because of endorsement implications. However, in certain rare cases for proposed uses which are not expressly permitted by regulation but which are not contrary to ethics standards, a waiver from the Associate Administrator for Communications may be granted. A waiver request should be submitted in writing to the Associate Administrator for Communications or designee for consideration. If Insignia use restrictions are waived, written justification must be submitted to the Office of the General Counsel by the Associate Administrator for Communications or designee.

Coordination of Partnership Agreements

• • All NASA products intended for public release must adhere to the NASA Stylebook (current edition – March 2016). Please coordinate timing of NASA and partner products and communications activities with the relevant Center communication office's Public Affairs Officers.

  • NASA's standard operating procedure is to not issue joint releases with partners. Each organization may issue their individual releases, with shared language and quotes as appropriate. These products should be coordinated with the appropriate offices and individuals in each organization.

  • Other than fact checking, NASA does not edit other organizations' products and does not change our products to fit other organizations' style or process. The Agency does not allow the use of the NASA logo on other organizations' news products.