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Table of
Contents:
What is
New Technology Reporting (NTR)
New Technology Reports (NTR) are the primary
means for identifying innovations developed by
NASA employees.The New Technology Reporting process
has 4 steps: NTR is created by innovators; NTR
is submitted to NASA; NTR is reviewed for completeness
by NASA official; and NTR is entered into the
NASA TechTracS database.
New Technology Reports are important legal documents.
The NTR is used to disclose inventions and innovations
made by NASA employees. An NTR should be sufficiently
complete in technical detail to convey a clear
understanding of the nature, purpose, operation,
and physical, chemical, biological or electrical
characteristics of the invention or innovation.
NASA employees must use the NASA NTR form (NF
1679), either the web based version (NASA eNTRe)
or the paper version (PDF
or Word), to
report new technologies.
4 Steps for using NASA eNTRe
- Step 1:
Innovator(s) Completes New Technology Report
When an innovator creates a new technology,
the innovator uses NASA eNTRe to complete an
NTR. When completed, the NTR should be read
and understood by available co-innovators (if
any). The NTR is then "electronically
signed" by each innovator.
- Step 2:
Innovator(s) Submits Disclosure to NASA
Once completed, the innovator initiates submission
via a secure Internet connection to NASA. Upon
initiating a submission, a Terms and Conditions
screen is presented to clearly inform the innovator
of the legal nature of the electronic submission
(e.g., the entry of innovator names
in the appropriate signature blocks indicates
that the submitting innovator has informed each
available co-innovator of the terms
and conditions and that each individual has
agreed that his or her entered name will have
the same effect as an original signature). If
the Terms and Conditions are accepted, the NTR
is submitted to NASA.
- Step 3:
NASA Official Reviews New Technology Report
Upon receipt, the appropriate NASA official
(e.g., NASA New Technology Representative) is
automatically notified and reviews the submitted
report for completeness. If additional information
is required, the report may be returned via
NASA eNTRe for completion and re-submission
by the innovator. If returned, the innovator
is notified by e-mail.
- Step 4:
Technology Acceptance
When the NASA official approves the report,
the NASA TechTracS database is populated with
the new information and the innovators notified
of acceptance by e-mail.
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Why Report
New Technologies?
The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958,
as amended, provides that the aeronautical and
space activities of the United States shall be
conducted so as to contribute to the preservation
of the United States as a leader in aeronautical
and space science and technology and in the application
thereof to the conduct of peaceful activities
within and outside the atmosphere. Technology
Transfer is one of NASA’s Strategic Missions
and the means through which aeronautics and space
technological advances permeate the many sectors
of the national economy through the U.S. industrial
community. Since many technological advances have
resulted from innovations developed by NASA employees
and under NASA funding agreements (i.e., contracts,
grants, and cooperative agreements), the reporting
of these New Technologies is essential to the
achievement of this important NASA mission.
In accordance with NASA
Policy Directive 2091.1A, each NASA employee
who makes an invention or innovation is required
to submit a disclosure containing full and complete
technical information concerning each invention
or innovation to the NASA Center where he or she
is employed.
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Policies
and Laws
Provided here are the policies and laws concerning
New Technology Reporting by U.S. government employees.
These materials are provided for informational
purposes only and are not intended as legal advice.
Users should consult their own legal counsel.
Since Technology Transfer is such a broad subject
base, and there are so many policies, we list
here the statute and regulation names and where
to find the original texts rather than the texts
themselves. The CFR clauses are available at:
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/index.html
With Respect to U.S. Government Employees:
-37 CFR Part 501 (Uniform Patent Policy
For Rights in Inventions Made by Government
Employees)
-NASA
Policy Directive (NPD) 2091.1A (Inventions
Made by Government Employees)
The Roles
of the People Involved
There are two main types of people involved
in the NTR process for NASA employees. These are
the NASA Innovator and the NASA New Technology
Representative. Their duties and roles are described
here:
The NASA Innovator
NASA Innovators are predominately researchers,
engineers, or designers. Although, any NASA employee
can submit a new technology report. New technologies
from NASA employees are directly submitted to
the NASA New Technology Representative.
The NASA New Technology Representative
The NASA NT Rep is responsible for reviewing
NTR submissions and populating the NASA TechTracS
database. The NASA NT Rep will inform the Center
Patent Counsel of the new NTR submission.
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When to
Report New Technologies
For NASA employees direction is provided in
NPD
2091.1A, Inventions Made by Government Employees.
Each employee who makes an invention (whether
or not the invention was made during working hours,
was made with a contribution of Government resources,
or bears a relationship to the official duties
of the employee) is required to submit to the
Office of the General Counsel, or to the delegated
Center Patent or Intellectual Property Counsel,
a disclosure of such invention.
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