Submitters are responsible for the formatting and appearance of their white paper abstract. Figures and tables must be placed in the file and therefore must be in digital format.

We recommend that you use image file formats that provide acceptable resolution without being huge (for example, please don't use a 1-MB TIFF file when a 150-K GIF file will do).

White paper entries must be submitted in the English language

File size cannot exceed 50 MB
Five (5) pages maximum (including figures, tables and references)
A cover page is not required, but if your team chooses to use a cover page, it will not count toward the five-page limit.
White papers should be single-spaced.
Please use fonts common to Macintosh and PC platforms (for example, Times, Times New Roman, Helvetica or Arial for text; Symbol for mathematical symbols and Greek letters).
The font size for the body of the paper should be 12 pt.

YOUR WHITE PAPER FILE MUST INCLUDE:

Title
Mailing address and contact information of your organization
Full name; names of all team members (Note: The "Team Name" as entered on the Entry Form is how we will refer to your organization in any media/press)
If you are affiliated with a company or organization – their name
If you are affiliated with a government organization – their name
If you are affiliated with an accelerator or incubator – their name
If you are affiliated with a college or university – their name
If you are affiliated with or funded by an Angel group or VC Firm – their name

THINGS TO CONSIDER:

For all idea submissions, attention should be given to the following:

The current “Technology Readiness Level” (TRL) level of your development – is it merely a theory or is it currently on the market as a product or is it somewhere in between?
Our judges will be asking themselves the following questions regarding your submittal in their evaluation:

a. Which area of focus does the proposal seem to address?

b. Does the development have the potential to break new ground in its field?

c. Can the innovation go to market quickly (ideally within two years)?

d. Is it clear how the business will generate money?

e. Does the submitter clearly understand who the customer is?

f. Does the submitter have the skills to succeed?

g. Does the submitter have a clear path and milestones to succeed?

h. Does the submitter have the right leadership?

COMPLIANCE MATRIX

During the scoring process, NASA iTech Forum judges will need to ensure that teams address the expectations laid out in these guidelines. When developing your submittal, please verify that you have addressed all (a-h) of the elements above that the judges will be considering. A completed Compliance Matrix must be included with your submittal as an appendix. The compliance matrix DOES NOT count towards your page maximum.

ELIGIBILITY

NASA iTech is currently open to everyone.

SUBMITTING YOUR PROPOSAL / WHITEPAPER

Entries may only be submitted through the NASA iTech website during an official "Call for Ideas." The Call for Ideas for 2020 NASA iTech Cycle I deadline is March 27, 2020. Windows for entries to future Cycles may be announced after the 2020 NASA iTech Cycle I Forum.

For technical questions about entries, please contact thomas.flake@nianet.org

Innovators Wanted

Learn how to apply to a NASA iTech event, including frequently asked questions and submission guidelines.