Reporting New Technologies and Innovations
for NASA Employees

• NASA Civil Service employees are required to report inventions as soon as possible after conception (NPD 2091.1). Invention Disclosure Information for NASA Inventions: When in Doubt - Report!

Why Report New Technologies and Inventions?

• Awards!
• Identification for possible Technology Commercialization assistance with benefits to the economy and NASA.
• Reporting New Technologies and Inventions as soon as possible after conception allows the Center Patent Counsel to determine ownership and whether intellectual property protection is appropriate.
• Reporting prior to disclosure, publication, or presentation at a conference allows Patent Counsel to file a patent application prior to possible statutory bars which may preclude patent protection.
• Filing a patent application establishes and protects rights.
• Secrecy provides little protection for the innovation.
• Professional recognition and prestige.
• Publication in NASA Tech Briefs/NASA Patent Abstracts Bibliography once a patent application is filed or a decision is made not to file. NASA Tech Briefs is circulated to over 207,000 industry readers in the U.S. alone. Most technologies selected for Tech Briefs will also have a Technical Support Package (TSP) prepared for them.
• For items deemed appropriate for public dissemination, inclusion in NASA TechTracS TechFinder. This site provides a technology database containing a wealth of information on technologies developed by NASA that may have commercial potential and benefits.

How Do I Report My Innovations?

• MSFC Employees should submit NASA Form 1679 to the Center's Acting New Technology Representative: Carolyn McMillan, Technology Transfer Program, Building 4732/Room 104, 544-9151. On-site employees may also access the NASA Form 1679 through the MSFC electronic forms application.

Do not hesitate to contact the MSFC New Technology Representative with questions pertaining to the reporting process.