NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase I

The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase I grant is administered by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), specifically through its Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD). As part of the broader FY 2025 Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion initiative (SpaceTech REDDI 2025), this grant opportunity supports early-stage research into far-reaching and disruptive aerospace concepts. The NIAC Program is designed to fund cutting-edge ideas that may not otherwise receive funding under traditional NASA programs, with a focus on transforming the possible in air and space exploration. Proposals must align with NASA’s long-term mission and vision, promoting bold innovations that may enable future NASA and commercial missions. NIAC Phase I awards fund short-term (up to nine months) feasibility studies for visionary aerospace concepts that could eventually mature into transformational technologies. Each award can be up to $175,000 and targets projects with a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 2 or below. The scope of work is expected to include a detailed assessment of the concept’s feasibility and benefit within the context of a specific representative mission. These missions should be well-articulated and used to demonstrate how the proposed innovation would perform in realistic aerospace scenarios. NIAC concepts must be based on credible science or engineering principles and present a plausible development pathway. This funding opportunity is open to all categories of U.S.-based organizations, including academic institutions, private industry, nonprofits, and government entities. Non-U.S. organizations may participate as partners or lead on a no-exchange-of-funds basis, subject to NASA’s policies on foreign participation. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, although applicants are encouraged to explore supplemental support from other government or industry sources. Proposals cannot be continuations of prior NIAC studies and must clearly differentiate from past or current work. Applicants must submit proposals through NASA’s NSPIRES portal using a two-step process: Step A is an initial short proposal due by July 15, 2025, and if invited, a more detailed Step B proposal is due by October 7, 2025. A virtual proposer’s forum will be held on June 25, 2025, to address application questions. Selections are expected to be announced by January 15, 2026, with awards anticipated to begin by March 16, 2026. All application materials must be received via NSPIRES by the respective deadlines; late submissions will not be accepted. Proposals are evaluated based on innovation, potential impact, relevance to a specific representative mission, and a sound technical approach. Evaluation of Step A proposals will focus on whether the concept is appropriate for NIAC’s objectives, and only the most competitive will be invited to submit Step B proposals. The Step B proposals will then be reviewed by a technical panel and scored across four criteria: innovation, potential impact, representative mission, and technical approach. A final selection will be made by a NASA official based on both review scores and programmatic considerations such as portfolio balance and available funding. Written debriefs are provided through NSPIRES. The selected fellows will be required to participate in an orientation meeting and present their findings at the NIAC Symposium. A final technical report is mandatory and must be suitable for public release. Fellows are also expected to file a New Technology Report at the conclusion of their study. Questions related to this funding opportunity can be directed to John Nelson, NIAC Program Executive at hq-niac@mail.nasa.gov. Technical assistance with NSPIRES is available via nspires-help@nasaprs.com or by phone at (202) 479-9376, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM ET.

Ensure the concept is innovative, representative of a mission, and aligned with NASA strategic priorities. Avoid incremental or previously funded concepts.