National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Small Business Innovation Research & Technology Transfer 2004 Program Solicitations
Chapter 9. Research Topics for SBIR and STTR
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9.1 SBIR Research Topics
9.2 STTR Research Topics
9. Research Topics for SBIR and STTR
9.1 SBIR Research Topics
Introduction
The SBIR Program Solicitation topics are developed in coordination with the established NASA management structure of the Strategic Enterprises (http://www.hq.nasa.gov/hq/enterprise.htm). There are seven Enterprises fulfilling either Mission Direct or operational functions.
The Enterprises identify, at the most fundamental level, what NASA does and for whom. Each Strategic Enterprise is analogous to a strategic business unit employed by private-sector companies to focus on and respond to their customers' needs. Each Strategic Enterprise has a unique set of goals, objectives, and strategies. SBIR research topics and subtopics are organized under the five research and technology Enterprises:
Aeronautics
Biological and Physical
Research
Earth Science
Exploration Systems
Space Science
Exploration Systems was created in 2004 to reflect the new vision for NASA encompassing a broad range of human and robotic missions, including the Moon, Mars, and destinations beyond.
Exploration Systems assumed the innovative research activities conducted by the Space Flight Enterprise in prior SBIR Solicitations. The Space Flight Enterprise still exists as an operations organization.Many of the research topic areas found in the 2003 Solicitation under Space Flight are now found in Exploration Systems.
In addition, the Education Enterprise is a crosscutting organization: It works to coordinate with the other Enterprises' in outreach activities for K-12 and universities and colleges. There are subtopics in this SBIR Solicitation that have an outreach and Education focus, matching the needs of one of the five technical Enterprise's missions.In addition, the required involvement of research institutions in the STTR Solicitation, which is announced concurrently with the SBIR Solicitation, adds an additional potential linkage to the Education Enterprise.
A more detailed description, with links, of the NASA Enterprises and the NASA Field Centers can be found at http://www.nasa.gov/about/sites.
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