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In these times of shrinking R&D funding from NASA HQ, Goddard is looking to improve its track record in technology partnering with other government agencies to the benefit of both NASA and the partner agency. The IPP Office provides a valuable service in seeking out these partnering opportunities and then following through with agreements, often bringing new and unique collaborations to Goddard. Tupper Hyde, Chief Technologist, Goddard’s Applied Engineering and Technology Directorate

In a time of bold exploration and science goals and limited resources, it is crucial that NASA leverage the resources of other organizations. Therefore, the IPP Office takes an active role in helping Goddard personnel identify collaborators—such as universities and commercial entities—and pursue opportunities from federal agencies. The nearly two dozen agencies with such opportunities have included the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA); the Departments of Commerce, Energy, and Veterans Affairs; the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); and the National Science Foundation.

The IPP Office’s efforts include:

• Assisting technical personnel in identifying potential partners and facilitating discussions to define precise areas for and means of collaboration
  
  
• Identifing open solicitations, focusing on calls aligned with Goddard’s capabilities, and communicating these funding opportunities to key Goddard personnel
  
  
• Serving as an internal reviewer for Goddard researchers’ white papers and proposals in response to these solicitations
  
  
• Establishing dialogue with the funding agencies and conducting research to better position Goddard for future opportunities
  
  
• Providing strategic, communications, and other guidance to Goddard researchers

For example, the IPP Office assisted Goddard researchers developing a project to benefit lunar exploration—an effort that helped lead to the partnership with United Space Alliance.

The IPP Office’s efforts in this area help Goddard to fulfill NASA’s technology-development needs as well as the complementary goals of other government agencies.