FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 20, 2019
NIA Release: 2019-02
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Entrepreneurs, university students, the investment community, and industry partners in the Colorado Springs, Colo., region have a unique chance in April to join together to change the world and impact the future of space exploration.
A special “Ignite the Night” NASA iTech event, in collaboration with the Space Foundation, is slated for Wednesday, April 10th, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. at the 35th Space Symposium. This fast-paced live event is designed to find and foster new technologies that might otherwise fly “under the radar” of NASA, potential investors, business leaders, and technology experts who could help bring the innovations to market.
The idea of NASA iTech is to increase interest in and awareness of winning innovations that can improve the future of space exploration and life on Earth. NASA iTech has already been a resounding success with the first 50 finalist companies raising more than $368 million in the past 24 months as a result of its various forums around the US.
NASA iTech will select and invite ten presenters from the applications received to pitch their ideas to an expert panel of judges at the Ignite the Night COLORADO SPRINGS event. The winner in Colorado Springs will earn a semifinalist slot in the current NASA iTech Cycle, increasing their chances to qualify as a finalist for the 2019 NASA iTech Cycle I forum, scheduled in Pasadena, Calif., on July 11-12, 2019.
For Ignite the Night COLORADO SPRINGS, NASA iTech is searching for non-government funded technologies that address key focus areas. Those include: Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Robotic Capabilities, Intelligent Machines, Force and Tactile Sensors, Augmented and Virtual Reality Advancements, and Flexible Materials.
There is also an X-Factor category to make room for ideas that may not neatly fit into one of the defined focus areas. An X-Factor technology is one that entrants think will wow the judges by the profound impact their innovation will have towards improving the future of space exploration and life on Earth.
Video from the event will be streamed online the day of the event from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. MDT at livestream.com/nasaitech. The program will conclude with an award ceremony announcing the top innovator.
Innovators wishing to present at Ignite the Night COLORADO SPRINGS will need to submit their applications online to NASAiTech.com by Monday, April 1st. Additional information and a link to attend the free event as an audience member can also be found at NASAiTech.com.
Editor’s note: A flyer for the Ignite the Night COLORADO SPRINGS event can be downloaded at NASAiTech.com.
POC:
Harla Sherwood
National Institute of Aerospace, Hampton, Va.
757-636-6300
harla.sherwood@nianet.org
