Through the Center Innovation Fund, the Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) allocates a small portion of the NASA workforce and procurement budget to internal research and development to feed early stage innovation in technology and exploration. Activities within the Center Innovation Fund are proposed and led by NASA scientists and engineers. These activities and creative initiatives pursue emerging technologies that leverage talent and capabilities at NASA Langley Research Center.
Through the Independent Research and Developments activity, NASA Langley Research Center allocates funds to invest in early stage, high-payoff technologies and systems that are aligned with the NASA and Langley strategic plans and have high potential for future applications.
Some projects will align only with either CIF or IRAD support, but many are supported by a combination of both programs to leverage the most from limited resources. The investment in these early stage technologies is intended to mature them to the point that, if successful, they can substantially influence future Mission Directorate programs and projects, and receive follow-on support from NASA programs, external partners, or through commercialization.
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