Through NASA’s iTech initiative, the agency finds and considers inventive technologies that could help it accomplish future exploration goals. NASA iTech connects innovators with respected experts who provide valuable technical feedback and with potential investors who could offer resources to further the technologies.

During the 2020 NASA iTech Cycle II forum, held virtually Oct. 15-16, representatives of 10 companies from five different states, as well as Canada and Australia, showcased their technologies to chief technologists from various NASA centers. Experts from industry, academia, professional organizations, and potential investors joined the finalists online for presentations and collaborative sessions during the forum.

This final cycle of 2020 called for innovative technologies in the areas of power generation and energy, integrated photonics, advanced engineered materials, and miniaturized systems. An “X-factor innovations” category offered additional opportunities to showcase technologies and concepts that did not fit the other named focus areas but were thought-provoking with marked potential to positively impact future space exploration of the Moon and Mars and life here on Earth.

"NASA iTech aims to shine a light on companies and technologies that could benefit NASA through their commercial success,” said acting NASA iTech Program Executive Maxwell Briggs. "The goal is to allow private investment to fund development and allow for the technology to mature in the private sector for potential future use by NASA."

NASA officials recognized three winners during an awards ceremony that concluded the forum and the 2020 NASA iTech cycles. The winners ranked highest in the judging criteria that included technical viability, likely impact on future space exploration, benefits to humanity, and commercialization potential.

In alphabetical order, the 2020 NASA iTech Cycle II winners are:

AutonomIQ – San Jose, California

A computer coding solution that leverages modern technologies to generate automation code without human intervention

HyPoint Inc. – Menlo Park, California

A next-generation hydrogen fuel cell system featuring zero carbon dioxide emissions and improved energy performance for the aerospace industry

Rapair Medical Devices – Bagotville, Australia

A wound dressing that aims to nano-engineer molecules in damaged skin to rapidly repair cuts and lacerations

NASA iTech is an initiative within NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate and is managed by the National Institute of Aerospace in Hampton, Virginia.

For information about NASA iTech, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/itech

For information about NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/spacetech