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Goddard technologies are being evaluated for their start-up potential by participants of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s (UMBC’s) unique ACTiVATE program. Launched in 2004, ACTiVATE*—that is, Achieving the Commercialization of Technology in Ventures through Applied Training for Entrepreneurs—is designed to increase the commercialization of technology innovations from research institutions in Maryland by training mid-career women entrepreneurs to create technology-based start-up companies.

“Access to high-quality technology is critical to the success of the ACTiVATE program,” said Stephen Auvil of UMBC’s Office of Technology Development. “Through this key partnership with NASA Goddard, the ACTiVATE program will rely on NASA’s valuable research and long tradition of innovation to provide such technologies.”

The agreement with UMBC will also enable Goddard to obtain assessment data from UMBC to assist in future NASA technology transfer efforts. Or, if program participants see sufficient potential in a Goddard technology, they can license it as the foundation for a start-up company.

Goddard is the first government lab to participate in ACTiVATE and, according to Auvil, Goddard contributed more technologies than any other research institution in the state of Maryland during the program’s first year. One of those technologies successfully moved from Phase I’s opportunity analysis to Phase II’s business plan development.

The coming year will see more Goddard technologies provided to the ACTiVATE program.





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