RELEASE 10-28-2019: NASA iTech's Ignite the Night CHICAGO Announced

NASA iTech's Ignite the Night CHICAGO Announced

Updated 10-29-19: Submission deadline extended to November 4, 2019.

Oct. 28, 2019
NIA Release: 2020-01

What: Ignite the Night CHICAGO, a NASA iTech event
When: Nov. 14, 6-9 p.m.
Where: TechNexus Venture Collaboration Center, 20 North Upper Wacker Drive, Suite #1200

Entrepreneurs, industry, university students, and the investment community in the Chicago area have a unique chance in November to join together to change the world and impact the future of space exploration.

Nov.A special Ignite the Night CHICAGO, a NASA iTech event, is slated for Thursday, Nov. 14, 6-9 p.m. This fast-paced live event is designed to find and foster new technologies that might otherwise fly “under the radar” of NASA, potential investors, business leaders and technology experts who could help bring the innovations to market.

The idea of NASA iTech is to increase interest in and awareness of winning innovations that can improve the future of space exploration and life on Earth. 

NASA iTech will select and invite 10 innovators from the applications received to present their ideas to an expert panel of judges at the Ignite the Night CHICAGO event. The winner in Chicago will earn a semifinalist slot in the current NASA iTech cycle, increasing their chances to qualify as a finalist for the 2020 NASA iTech Cycle I Forum in Kansas City, Missouri, May 20-21.

For Ignite the Night CHICAGO, NASA iTech is searching for technologies that address key focus areas: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning, Biotechnology, System Autonomy, and Advanced Manufacturing. An X-Factor category also makes room for ideas that may not neatly fit into one of the defined focus areas. An X-Factor technology is one that entrants think will wow the judges by the profound impact their innovation will have toward improving the future of space exploration and life on Earth.

Video from the event will be streamed online during the event. The program will conclude with an award ceremony announcing the top innovator.

Innovators wishing to present at Ignite the Night CHICAGO will need to submit their applications by Nov. 4, 2019. Additional information and a link to attend the event as an audience member can be found on the NASA iTech website.


Contact:

Harla Sherwood
National Institute of Aerospace, Hampton, Va.
757-636-6300
sherwood@nianet.org