NASA says it's seeking private and corporate sponsors for the Centennial Challenges -- a program of incentive prizes designed for citizen inventors.
The space agency has conducted 19 competitions in six challenge areas since 2005, awarding $4.5 million in prizes to entrants who develop creative
solutions to problems of interest to NASA.
NASA officials said they're looking for companies, organizations or individuals interested in sponsoring the non-profit allied organizations
that manage each of prize competitions. NASA provides prize purses for the challenges, but not the funds needed to conduct the competitions.
Arrangements for competition sponsorships will be negotiated directly between the allied organizations and the sponsors and may include naming rights for significant contributors, NASA said.
Centennial Challenge events typically include public audiences and are televised or broadcast over the Internet via streaming video, officials
said. The competitions provide high-visibility opportunities for public outreach and education. There are three continuing Centennial Challenges,
with several new challenges expected to be announced this year.