Funding Opportunity

Thank you for your interest in the SMARTCAP Program.  Applications for the current grant cycle were accepted through January 17, 2012.  The program is not currently accepting applications.  Please check back for future funding opportunities. 

NSBRI partners with its Industry Forum to encourage commercialization of NSBRI-supported products and research. To fulfill this charge, NSBRI has created SMARTCAP – Space Medicine and Related Technologies Commercialization Assistance Program, designed to provide seed funding to companies developing promising products that can address unmet health and performance needs in space and on Earth. Typically, solutions that are of value in space tend to be small, power-efficient, non-invasive, and easy for a non-specialist to use in a resource-constrained environment. To learn more about technologies that have been successful in this area, please review some of our past Success Stories or our most recent Newsletter. More information about the medical challenges associated with space travel is available at www.nsbri.org or at humanresearchroadmap.nasa.gov.

Both previously NSBRI-supported and new technologies will be considered. This award program is not intended for early-stage technology development. The proposed work should move the product along a commercialization path. Examples of desirable project goals are proof of concept studies, refinement of an existing prototype, or usability testing. The selected technologies must have the potential to be very impactful for the target population.

Up to two companies per award cycle (year) will be selected to receive awards of up to $100,000 from SMARTCAP. To be considered for a SMARTCAP award, companies must have 500 or fewer employees.

This program is intended to position the selected technologies for follow-on support from investors, potential industry partners, or other funding entities. We will focus on helping the companies identify and prioritize critical issues on the path to market and develop an action plan for the 18-24 months following completion of their project. Assistance may include the preparation of market, regulatory, intellectual property or competitive analyses by NSBRI's experienced business consultants. The awardee, the consultants and the Industry Forum Lead will jointly determine which type of support will create the most value for the company.

Identified source of matching funding from a non-federal entity will be required if an applicant is invited to submit a full Stage 2 proposal. The matching funds may be in the form of cash to support the project or as services that will enable the company to perform the tasks outlined in the project plan.

Please contact the NSBRI Industry Forum Lead by email or by phone at 713-798-7412 with any questions.

— a technology that can enable safe and productive human space flight and that can be implemented in the space environment. Generally, technologies of value in space flight address an important medical issue and are small, power-efficient, non-invasive, and easy-to-use. To learn more about what makes a product appropriate for use in space, please review some of NSBRI’s prior Success Stories or our most recent Newsletter. Please see nsbri.org and humanresearchroadmap.nasa.gov for further information on the medical challenges associated with space flight.;

— a product with unique characteristics and a competitive advantage with the potential to fulfill an unmet Earth market need;

— a defensible intellectual property position;

— a company that is well positioned to successfully accomplish the goals of the project through substantial leveraging and partnerships;

— a strong technical or management team with an established track record of meeting deadlines and delivering products.

Please contact the NSBRI Industry Forum Lead by email or by phone at 713-798-7412 with any questions.

Any company seeking to commercialize a technology that can address unmet health and performance needs in space and on Earth may submit a Stage 1 application to the NSBRI Industry Forum.

Please contact the NSBRI Industry Forum Lead by email or by phone at 713-798-7412 with any questions.