NASA Invention of the Year Awards

NASA develops and funds the development of many valuable innovations. The annual IOY program recognizes those inventions that have significantly contributed to NASA programs, or that exemplify NASA’s mission to transfer cutting edge technology to U.S. industry. The IOY award is NASA’s highest commendation for technology innovation, and involves a substantial monetary award.

NASA Software of the Year Awards

Excellence in software is vital to the agency's leadership role in developing aeronautics and space technologies and transferring them to government and industry. The SOY Award competition allows recognition and appreciation of NASA team members that set high standards for significant software that is creative, usable, and transferable, and possesses inherent quality. The SOY award is NASA’s highest commendation for software excellence, and involves a substantial monetary award.

Administrator’s Gears of Government Initiative Award

The Initiative Award recognizes teams that have improved mission, service, or stewardship outcomes – either directly or through the three drivers of change—through the application of technology, improvements in operations, or other innovations.

NASA ARMD Associate Administrator Award

The Associate Administrator Awards are presented to individuals and groups who contribute to Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate activities and who demonstrate exemplary performance. Their accomplishments demonstrate a profound positive impact and benefit to ARMD, its partners and/or stakeholders.

NASA STMD Group Award

As a Federal Agency, NASA requires prompt public disclosure of the results of its sponsored research to generate knowledge that benefits the Nation. Thus, it is NASA’s intent that all knowledge developed under awards resulting from this solicitation be shared broadly. In certain STMD programs, award recipients will be expected to publish their work in peer-reviewed, open literature publications to the greatest extent practical.

NASA Group Achievement Awards

NASA’s most prestigious honor awards are approved by the Administrator and presented to a number of carefully selected individuals and groups of individuals who have distinguished themselves by making outstanding contributions to the Agency’s mission.