CASIS and MassChallenge Announce Partnership to Send Entrepreneurial Research to the ISS
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL. (February 13, 2013) – The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (the ISSInternational Space Station National Lab), the nonprofit organization promoting and managing research on board the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory, today announced it will provide up to $100,000 in grant funding for qualified research projects as part of its partnership with the “MassChallenge Startup Accelerator.”
MassChallenge is the largest-ever startup accelerator, and the first to support high-impact, early-stage entrepreneurs without taking any equity. Its four-month program offers world-class mentorship, free office space, $1 million in cash awards, and up to $10 million through in-kind support. To date, MassChallenge alumni have collectively raised over $360 million in outside funding, generated nearly $100 million in revenue, and created nearly 3,000 jobs since 2010.
As per the agreement with MassChallenge, the ISS National Lab will commit up to $100,000 to any winning proposal that is deemed flight-ready for research on board the ISS. the ISS National Lab funds for qualified research proposals on Station are not part of the original MassChallenge award, but are offered on top of any other grants received through the contest.
“Through the MassChallenge Startup Accelerator, we strive to provide early-stage entrepreneurs with the mentorship and funding that will allow them to succeed in today’s global economy,” said MassChallenge Director of Partnerships Scott Bailey. “We are incredibly excited to announce this partnership with the ISS National Lab, and in doing so believe we are taking our contest to the next emerging market: the ISS.”
“the ISS National Lab continues to show its commitment to fully utilize the ISS and facilitate groundbreaking research opportunities on board the ISS National Lab,” said the ISS National Lab Interim Executive Director Jim Royston. “This partnership with MassChallenge will provide valuable funding for entrepreneurs to get their research off the ground and onto humankind’s most unique research platform.”
The MassChallenge Startup Accelerator is open to receive proposals from Feb. 13 through April 3, 2013. Any early-stage startup, in any industry, from anywhere in the world is eligible to apply. For additional information on the contest, including how to submit a proposal, please visit www.masschallenge.org
# # #
About the ISS National Lab: The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (the ISS National Lab) was selected by NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration in July 2011 to maximize use of the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory through 2020. the ISS National Lab is dedicated to supporting and accelerating innovations and new discoveries that will enhance the health and wellbeing of people and our planet. The the ISS National Lab goal is to bring the magic of space down to earth. For more information, visit issnationallab.org.
About the ISS National Laboratory: In 2005, Congress designated the U.S. portion of the International Space Station as the nation’s newest national laboratory to maximize its use for improving life on Earth, promoting collaboration among diverse users and advancing STEM education. This unique laboratory environment is available for use by other U.S. government agencies and by academic and private institutions, providing access to the permanent microgravityThe condition of perceived weightlessness created when an object is in free fall, for example when an object is in orbital motion. Microgravity alters many observable phenomena within the physical and life sciences, allowing scientists to study things in ways not possible on Earth. The International Space Station provides access to a persistent microgravity environment. setting, vantage point in low earth orbit(Abbreviation: LEO) The orbit around the Earth that extends up to an altitude of 2,000 km (1,200 miles) from Earth’s surface. The International Space Station’s orbit is in LEO, at an altitude of approximately 250 miles. and varied environments of space. The ISS National Laboratory Office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center currently facilitates research initiatives on board the station’s National Lab, but management of America’s only in-orbit laboratory is transitioning to the ISS National Lab.
# # #