Goddard’s IPP Office works to recognize Goddard innovators’ scientific and engineering achievements as well as their participation in partnership development and technology transfer activities. Doing so further inspires them toward R&D excellence, which benefits NASA, as well as promotes the Innovative Partnerships Program, encouraging other Goddard researchers to participate in the IPP Office’s activities.

photo credit: Sam Kittner

photo credit: Steel Angels photo, Inc. All rights reserved.

Service to America Medal: The IPP Office nominated Norden Huang (retired) for the Service to America Medal*, which Dr. Huang received in the Science and Environment category on September 27, 2006. Known as “The Sammies,” the awards pay tribute to America’s dedicated federal workforce, highlighting those who have made significant contributions to the country. Dr. Huang was recognized for his discovery of the Hilbert-Huang Transform (HHT) technology, one of the most important discoveries in the field of applied mathematics in NASA history.

R&D 100 Award: The IPP Office nominated the Conformal Gripper technology for the award known as “the Oscars of invention.” Developed by Goddard’s John Vranish (retired), this unique gripping mechanism has the potential to revolutionize robotics by eliminating the need for specialized end effectors and grippers. More information is available here.

Awards for Excellence in Technology Transfer: The IPP Office applied for and received two awards from the Mid-Atlantic Region of the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer:

• Transfer of a compliant cable mechanism and walker technology to Enduro Medical Technology, which has commercialized the technologies into the Secure Ambulation Module
  
  
• Transfer of the HHT technology to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center to enhance monitoring patients at risk for sudden cardiac failure, stroke, depression, other neurological disorders.
  

All of these collaborations were made possible by the hard work of [the IPP Office] and your team. You continuously pursued the agreements and made them happen. I also want to express my appreciation for all of the awards for which you have nominated me and my technology. I am quite sure that I would not have so many awards to my name had it not been for you and your team.