MUREP Innovation & Tech Transfer Idea Competition
Minority University Research & Education Project (MUREP) Innovation Tech Transfer Idea Competition (MITTIC) is a higher education spinoff challenge established to develop new ideas for commercialization by seeking concept papers from multi-disciplinary student teams enrolled at a Minority Serving Institution (MSI).
Overview
Getting Started
Technology Available
MITTIC OVERVIEW
DESCRIPTION
The Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) Innovation and Tech Transfer Idea Competition (MITTIC) is a higher education spinoff challenge established to develop new ideas for commercialization by seeking concept papers from multi-disciplinary student teams enrolled at a Minority Serving Institution (MSI).
CURRICULUM
Through collaboration with NASA L'SPACE Academy, MITTIC is offering a "concept to commercialization" training opportunity. The L'SPACE Proposal Writing and Evaluation Experience Academy is a free, online, interactive 12-week training course designed to provide unique, hands-on learning and insight into the dynamic world of the Space Industry. Learn to effectively write a concept proposal that turns innovative ideas into reality. Gain experience in the process of writing, reviewing, and scoring proposals through the lens of a NASA reviewer.
MITTIC requires at least one student per team to complete the L'SPACE training course in order for the team to participate in the MITTIC competition.
Team members are enrolled in NASA L'SPACE Academy by submitting a Letter of Intent to MITTIC by September 7, 2021 at 12pm CDT
(see section: Getting Started).
- Upon completion of the L'SPACE Academy, teams composed of four (4) to five (5) students must choose one of MITTIC's approved NASA Intellectual Property (IP), and submit a concept paper explaining the commercial viability of the proposed concept using MITTIC challenge guidelines. Priority is given to teams partnering with a large or small business.
- Teams from minority serving institutions who were selected to complete in MITTIC 2021 must have at least 50% new core team members for MITTIC 2022.
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Up to eight (8) qualifying teams are selected to participate in an online collaboration tool with NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The virtual immersion experience will occur in April 2022. Each team is REQUIRED to submit:
- Certificate of completion or participation from a least one team member who completed one of the L'SPACE academies,
- Concept paper/business plan,
- Explanation of team's concept and business plan during a Preliminary Space Tank Pitch Review, and
- An oral "lightning pitch" presentation, during Space Tank competition.
The concept paper and Space Tank pitch will be reviewed and evaluated by a committee using the criteria listed within the challenge guidelines.
We require 50% interactive team representation during ALL immersion experience sessions/activities and 100% core team member participation for the entire day of Space Tank. - The winning team of the Space Tank competition will virtually visit, tour and present at NASA's Ames Research Center and various tech companies in Silicon Valley, California, in May 2022. This experience provides the team with an exclusive look at facilities, laboratories, start-up companies and the opportunity to discuss further concept development.
- Each qualifying team could receive incentives of up to $5,000, while the winning team is eligible to receive up to an additional $10,000. In order to qualify for these incentives, selected teams must meet attendance requirements at all immersion experience events and will be required to submit a Use of Funds Form indicating how they intend to use the funds after they are received by the team's institution.
- 30 days following Space Tank, all selected teams for MITTIC 2022 will be required to submit documentation that will detail the updates that have occurred with the team and/or their concept since the competition. A form will be provided at the time that this documentation is due.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- All team members must be 16 or older.
- All team members are required to be U.S. Citizens.
- Each team must have four (4) to five (5) team members currently enrolled in the proposing Minority Serving Institution (MSI).
- All team members must be full-time undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in an accredited U.S. institution of higher learning (junior college, community college, college or university) at the time the concept paper is submitted.
- All team members must be enrolled full-time as an undergraduate or graduate student in the accredited U.S. institution of higher learning junior college, community college, college or university) at the time the concept paper is submitted and throughout the entire MITTIC experience.
- At least one member from each team is required to complete a L'SPACE training course at the time the concept paper is submitted. Team members are enrolled in NASA L'SPACE Academy by submitting a Letter of Intent to MITTIC by September 7, 2021 at 12pm CDT (see section: Getting Started). L'SPACE alumni automatically qualify.
- Each team is required to have a principal investigator (PI) who actively works for the proposing MSI.
Does your team meet all eligibility requirements? The application will be open as early as
December 6, 2021, at 10 am CDT.
GETTING STARTED
The LOI should express intent to participate in MITTIC by briefly providing all known information:
- Your name and email
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Name of your college/university - must be a minority serving institution
- Teams may combine MSI's to form teams.
- Your "core team institution" is the institution of which your PI is employed.
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Type of minority serving institution(s) of each team member and PI
- (e.g. TCU, HBCU, HSI, ANAPISI, etc.)
- For more information, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/stem/murep/faq.html#3
- Name and email of Principal Investigator (PI)
- Names and email of four (4) to five (5) student team members (if available)
- Identify the team member(s) participating in L'SPACE.
If your team meets the L'SPACE requirement, do not submit a letter of intent.
Submitting a Concept Paper
Interested teams who meet all eligibility requirements may submit a concept paper by clicking the link below anytime during December 6, 2021 (10am CDT) through February 7, 2022 (by 5:00pm CDT).
Does your team meet all eligibility requirements? The application will be open as early as
December 6, 2021 at 10 am CDT.
VIDEOS
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Spinoff 2019: How Technology Improves Life on Earth
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How to Pitch Your Idea in 3-5 minutes
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Example Pitch
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Five Important Questions to Ask Before Pitching to Investors
KEY DATES
Information Sessions:
Join us for a presentation about MITTIC where we will answer your questions to help you prepare to apply to participate.
Thursday, July 29, 2021 at 2pm CT
Wednesday, August 4, 2021 at 2pm CT
Thursday, August 5, 2021 at 11:30am CT
Monday, August 9, 2021 at 12pm CT
Tuesday, August 10, 2021 at 1:30pm CT
Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at 12:30pm CT
Tuesday, August 24, 2021 at 12pm CT
Thursday, August 26, 2021 at 2pm CT
Monday, August 30, 2021 at 2:30pm CT
Wednesday, September 1, 2021 at 3pm CT
Friday, September 3, 2021 at 11:30am CT
Click here to register for an info session!
Unable to make any of our information sessions? Click here to view one of our previously recorded sessions.
Letters of Intent Due:
Tuesday, September 7, 2021 at 11:59pm CT
Click here to submit your letter of intent.
CONCEPT PAPERS ACCEPTED:
Monday, December 6, 2021 (10am CDT) through Monday, February 7, 2022 (by 5:00 CST).
Acceptance Letter Sent to Qualifying Teams: March 2022
Online Collaboration for Eight (8) Qualifying Teams: March-April 2022
NASA's Johnson Space Center Onsite Immersion Experience for Eight (8) Qualifying Teams: April 2022
NASA's Ames Research Center Onsite Immersion Experience for One (1) Qualifying Team: May 2022
MITTIC 2021 winning team
MITTIC 2022 winning team:
This could be your team!
Submit a letter of intent and join us for an information session to learn more about MITTIC.