What: Ignite the Night ORLANDO, a NASA iTech event
When: September 10, 6-9 p.m.
Where: Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

Entrepreneurs, industry, university students, and the investment community in the Central Florida region have a unique chance in September to join together to change the world, and impact the future of space exploration.

A special Ignite the Night ORLANDO, a NASA iTech event, in collaboration with the Central Florida Tech Alliance and Space Florida, is slated for Tuesday, September 10, 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 ten presenters from the applications received to pitch their ideas to an expert panel of judges at the Ignite the Night ORLANDO event. The winner in Orlando will earn a semifinalist slot in the current NASA iTech Cycle, increasing their chances to qualify as a finalist for the 2019 NASA iTech Cycle II Forum in Las Cruces, New Mexico, October 7-8.

For Ignite the Night ORLANDO, NASA iTech is searching for non-government funded technologies that address key focus areas Improve Energy Storage Density; Radiation – Protection, Mitigation and Hardware; Power-Efficient Technologies; and Medical Breakthroughs. 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 towards improving the future of space exploration and life on Earth.

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

Innovators wishing to present at Ignite the Night ORLANDO will need to submit their applications by August 30. Additional information and a link to attend the free event as an audience member can be found on the NASA iTech website.