What started as a single-campus initiative at the University of Maryland has grown into a five-year Space Act Agreement between NASA and the University System of Maryland, one of the first of its kind, built around student innovation with an entrepreneurship center as the catalyst.
The five-year Space Act Agreement advances student innovation in space exploration across the University System of Maryland. It builds on NEXPLORE 2040, the partnership between xFoundry, the University of Maryland, and NASA.
Email partnerships@xfoundry.org for more info.
SCOPE. xFoundry@UMD ran with NASA in 2025–26. The agreement extends the programs to all of USM for five years.
Model. Students define the problem inside NASA's challenge areas, then build the solution over 12 to 18 months.
Reach. The first cycle drew students from [XX] degree programs.
Stakes. Winning teams pitch the Xponential investor panel for up to $2 million in investment.
Access. A USM-exclusive cohort researches, designs, and builds with [NASA scientists and engineers], guided by faculty.
Next. Team registration opens Sept. 1. Work with xFoundry to share with your career center, student affairs, student clubs, key faculty and advisors, and entrepreneurship stakeholders.
To walk through how this five-year Space Act Agreement came together, xFoundry hosted a roundtable featuring NASA leadership Christyl Johnson, NASA Astronaut Jeanette Epps, USM Vice Chancellor Michele Masucci, UMD Chief Innovation Officer Dean Chang, and xFoundry Horizons Challenge alumnae Monica Escalante and Laura Vargas.
Vice Chancellor of USM, breaks down why joining forces with NASA was the definitive next step for the University System of Maryland’s ecosystem.
Impacted by the signing of NASA and the University System of Maryland's five-year Space Act Agreement.
Now getting the chance to work on real NASA technology challenges.
