The mission of the Innovative Partnerships Program is to provide leveraged technology alternatives for Mission Directorates, Programs, and Projects through joint partnerships with industry, academia, government agencies and national laboratories.   

The Office’s product elements can be broadly grouped into the following areas: 

• SBIR/STTR
• Technology Transfer
• Intellectual Property Management
• Dual Use and Non-Traditional Partnerships

The IPPO manages the KSC Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs. The purposes of the SBIR and STTR programs are to stimulate technological innovation in the private sector to increase the commercial application of these research results; and to encourage participation of socially and economically disadvantaged persons and women-owned businesses.

The Center IPPO secures NASA's IP from technologies submitted through the new technology reporting and tracking system, NASA TechTracS (NTTS), based on recommendation from the KSC technology needs list, commercial assessments of technologies, and guidance from the Patent Counsel.

Partnerships with industry for Dual Use technology development that focus on mid-range technology readiness levels to address technology gaps and needs identified by the Mission Directorates, Programs and Projects. In addition, they include partnerships that facilitate the transition of SBIR/STTR Phase I and II contracts into Phase III activities for further development, maturation, and insertion into NASA missions.