The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the US has awarded approximately USD 1.5M to academic, nonprofit, and business organisations through its Dual-Use Technology Development Cooperative Agreement Notices (CANs) to advance cutting-edge technologies for the Artemis program and future Moon to Mars missions. These agreements aim to close identified technology gaps in components and systems critical to NASA’s architecture. Twenty-four projects from 21 organisations have been selected under this initiative.

Prerequisites:

• Needs assessment to identify relevant areas to fund space exploration related activities

• Access to technical/business experts to support private entities applying for funding

• Lead agency & budget

• Procurement pathway

• Partner support as needed

Cost:

• Ballpark: USD 50k–250k

• Includes: fund design and governance, technical assistance, monitoring & evaluation, administrative support. Funding will depend on the type and duration of activities.

Timeframe:

• Overall: 12-60 months

• Phase: fund design (6-12 months), funding round(s) (6 - 48 months), optional evaluation & scale-up (6 - 12 months)

Pros:

• Scope Focus - By focusing funding on projects tailored to specific use cases, organisations can strengthen expertise and technological capabilities, enhancing competitiveness. By strategically focusing resources on key projects, organisations can achieve optimal resource allocation and efficient operations.

Considerations:

• Prioritization - Necessary to understand the nation's priorities and needs to determine which activities to fund.

• Timeline - Prioritizing activities may require significant consideration and time.