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Summary
Agreement builds on the successful NEXPLORE 2040 partnership between xFoundry, the University of Maryland, and NASA.
Under the five-year umbrella agreement, xFoundry, NASA, and USM will collaborate on:
- NEXPLORE Summit Series: Annual events bringing together NASA experts, industry leaders, and higher education to explore advancements and groundbreaking innovations in space exploration and related technologies.
- Horizons Challenge: A nationwide student pitch competition to identify specific, achievable short-term projects or solutions that collectively contribute toward NASA's bigger, long-term goals, with NASA and industry subject matter experts serving as advisors and judges.
- Innovation and Entrepreneurship Pathways: Hosting competitions, design challenges, and space technology experiences for university and community college students that address NASA capability gaps, catalyzing early-stage innovation and proof-of-concept development.
- Venture Acceleration and Workforce Development: Advancing top student innovations into high-growth startups
First of Its Kind: NASA & Entire State University System
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the University System of Maryland (USM) have signed a landmark five-year Non-Reimbursable Space Act Umbrella Agreement to advance student-led innovation across the technologies that could support long-term human presence in space. The agreement is among the first of its kind between NASA and an entire state university system centered specifically on student entrepreneurship and venture creation.
Building on the University of Maryland xFoundry’s close collaboration with NASA in 2025, the new framework formalizes engagement between NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) and all 12 USM institutions, along with its three regional higher education centers and the system office. Through this partnership, more than 175,000 students statewide will gain structured access to work directly with NASA, gaining the opportunity to advance technologies supporting future lunar and Mars missions, as well as the broader industries required for sustainable space habitation.
“This agreement represents a transformative moment for student innovation in aerospace,” said Amir Ansari, Executive Director of xFoundry. “When we launched the first NEXPLORE Summit in 2025 with UMD and NASA, we envisioned creating a sustainable pipeline connecting student entrepreneurs with the grand challenges of space exploration.” He noted that expanding the partnership across the full University System of Maryland moves that vision from pilot to platform. “This five-year agreement with the entire University System of Maryland exceeds those ambitions and establishes a model that can inspire similar partnerships nationwide. We are deeply grateful to NASA and USM for their confidence in this vision.”
xFoundry to Serve as Primary Implementation Partner
xFoundry, founded at the A. James Clark School of Engineering’s E.A. Fernandez IDEA Factory at the University of Maryland, will continue to serve as the primary implementation partner under the agreement. It will lead execution of NEXPLORE events, the Horizons Challenge student pitch competitions, and related initiatives designed to align student ventures with NASA’s highest-priority technology needs.
UMD to Anchor Research and Commercialization
As Maryland’s flagship public research university, UMD will play a central role in anchoring the collaboration’s research and commercialization engine. “The University of Maryland is proud to help anchor this collaboration with NASA, and to strengthen the bridge between cutting-edge research, hands-on student innovation and real-world technology to power the next generation of space exploration,” said University of Maryland President Darryll J. Pines. “This is exactly the kind of bold, collaborative approach that defines our commitment to excellence.”
At the System level, the agreement is structured to extend opportunity beyond a single campus and into every Maryland region. “This collaboration reflects the University System’s leadership in engaging all students in driving Maryland innovation and Maryland prosperity,” said Jay A. Perman, chancellor of the University System of Maryland. By including all 12 USM universities and its three regional centers, he noted, "We’re democratizing access to this game-changing opportunity with NASA. We know the kind of student talent that resides in every one of our schools. Inviting these students into this partnership doesn’t just help us pioneer the emerging industries supporting long-term space habitation; it brings the economic benefits of pathbreaking innovation into every region of our state.”
Together, NASA and USM are establishing a statewide innovation pipeline that connects federal technology priorities with student founders, research universities, regional campuses, and Maryland’s broader entrepreneurial ecosystem—creating a durable framework for translating space-driven challenges into scalable ventures and economic growth.
Looking Ahead: NEXPLORE Summit and Horizons Challenge II
The first major activities under the new agreement are already in motion. The Horizons Challenge II pitch competition will launch in September 2026, with student teams from universities across the region developing innovative solutions to NASA-identified technology challenges. The competition will culminate at the NEXPLORE Summit in April 2027, where finalist teams will present their solutions to panels of NASA experts, industry leaders, and investors.
This story was adapted from the July 23, 2026 press release by xFoundry.
July 24, 2026
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