NASA opens new lab in Houston, major donation to cancer research, and more trending innovation news
Editor’s note: Another week has come and gone, and it’s time to round up the top headlines from the past few days. Trending Houston tech and startup news on InnovationMap included NASA introducing a new program at Johnson Space Center, innovators to know, news from an energy tech startup, and more.
NASA debuts digital design lab in Houston
NASA has opened a new center in Houston that’s dedicated to digital space innovation for the future of spaceflight.
The Digital Engineering Design Center has recently opened in NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The facility is equipping the aerospace engineering community with skills and processes for digital designing that can build, test, and refine innovations before the manufacturing and assembling process in order to to test them.
“The DEDC will help prepare a modern American aerospace workforce by equipping it with valuable skills in digital engineering and encourage even more students to become engineers,” says Julie Kramer White, director of engineering at NASA Johnson, in a news release. “Collaborations like this one show we are committed to having the most talented, diverse, and motivated engineers that can continue to meet the exploration goals of the agency.” Continue reading.
Retired tech leader makes $16.25M donation to Houston health care organization
Earlier this year, an executive at Dell Technologies announced his retirement and commitment to philanthropy. Just a few months later, he and his wife made a whopping donation to the Houston health care organization that’s responsible for curing their son.
Howard and Susan Elias donated $16.25 million to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, the organization announced this week. The gift will go toward accelerating brain tumor and cancer neuroscience research. Howard Elias, who held C-level roles at EMC Corp. and Dell Technologies after EMC’s acquisition in 2015, retired in April.
The Eliases have supported MD Anderson since Harrison, Howard and Susan’s son, was diagnosed with brain cancer. In 2000, Harrison underwent a successful surgery by Dr. Frederick Lang.
“Dr. Lang and the incredible team at MD Anderson saved my son’s life more than two decades ago,” says Howard in a news release. “Now is the time for us to increase our commitment so we can play a significant role in advancing cancer neuroscience research specifically focused on brain tumors and the nervous system. We want other families to have the chance to see their son grow up, like our family has.” Continue reading.
4 Houston innovators to know this week
In this week’s roundup of Houston innovators to know, I’m introducing you to three local innovators across industries — from financial edtech to geothermal energy — recently making headlines in Houston innovation. Continue reading.
University of Houston introduces institute to bring business solutions to health care industry
The University of Houston announced this month that it has now launched its new Healthcare Business Institute, which will work with medical and business leaders as well as students to find solutions to pressing issues in the health care industry, such as high costs, access to care and new innovative technologies.
The institute will be part of the university’s C. T. Bauer College of Business and led by Ravi Aron, research director and professor of health care strategy and technology in the Bauer College Department of Decision & Information Sciences, and Dr. Edward Kroger, the administrative director of the center.
“Providers are facing increasingly limited reimbursement from the U.S. government, insurers and employers. The industry is, therefore, struggling with finding new ways to increase value by improving quality and decreasing cost,” Aron says in a statement. “This is complicated by the fact that the industry is the most heavily regulated in the country. While policy, regulations and the government all have roles to play, efficient care delivery also requires businesses–small, medium, large and startups-to play a significant role in delivering effective and efficient care.” Continue reading.
Houston energy startup shares details of successful pilot
A Houston energy startup has announced the news that every early-stage company wants to get to shout from the rooftops: the technology works.
Fervo Energy announced this week that its commercial pilot project has resulted in continuous carbon-free geothermal energy production. The full-scale commercial pilot, Project Red, is in northern Nevada and made possible through a 2021 partnership with Google.
“By applying drilling technology from the oil and gas industry, we have proven that we can produce 24/7 carbon-free energy resources in new geographies across the world,” Tim Latimer, Fervo Energy CEO and co-founder, says in a news release. “The incredible results we share today are the product of many years of dedicated work and commitment from Fervo employees and industry partners, especially Google.” Continue reading.