UNC Students Turn NASA Patents Into Real Business Ventures

Students at the University of Northern Colorado are now working with the same NASA technologies that power space exploration, turning them into products anyone can use.

This spring, two business courses at UNC became only the second location in Colorado to join NASA's Technology Transfer University program. The initiative gives students access to 1,600 NASA patents spanning medicine, manufacturing, environmental tech, and more.

Here's how it works: student teams pick a NASA technology at the start of the semester, then spend months developing a complete business plan to bring it to market. The course ends with students pitching their ideas to NASA representatives and local business leaders.

"The students are more creative when it comes to translating intellectual property," said Walt Ugalde, the program's industry engagement lead. "They come up with really novel ideas."

The results speak for themselves. Material once tested for spacesuits now keeps people sweat-free in bedding. Air quality sensors designed to fight moon dust help firefighters measure dangerous emissions in real time. NASA research even helps manufacture ski goggle lenses that optimize visibility on the slopes.

Dean Steve Elias brought the program to UNC after seeing its success at Fort Lewis College. He believes the experience will make graduates stand out in today's competitive job market.

The Ripple Effect

The benefits extend far beyond a resume boost. Students from graphic design to accounting to engineering are learning how federal patents work, how to evaluate technology markets, and how to plan commercialization strategies.

Professor Moe Manshad is taking it further by having his 30 students transform NASA patents into AI-powered concepts. "When one of our graduates sits across from a hiring manager and says, 'I worked on a NASA patent,' that is a differentiator," he said.

Associate Professor Dalong Ma calls it a true incubator experience. His 10-student capstone course is giving future entrepreneurs the exact skills they'll need to launch real businesses, not just hypothetical ones.

The program creates a win for everyone involved. NASA finds fresh perspectives on developing their technologies. Local businesses get access to skilled graduates with hands-on innovation experience. And students gain skills that dramatically shorten the gap between classroom learning and career success.

As one student noted when hearing about the program: they know the job market is tough, and working with NASA technology gives them an edge that matters.