NASA is currently collecting ideas - but only until March 19th. You can either use this chance to publish your ideas at OpenNASA or vote for the ideas that appeal to you. This initiative is part of their Open Government Plan which is quite a nice adoption of the open innovation principle.

At least I recommend to have a look of already existing list of contributions. Some might be quit interesting and will get more attention soon.

Currently the leading contribution are:

Space Solar Power Conference
Allow NASA employees 10-20% each week for innovative projects
NASApedia - The Collaborative Knowledge Base
Open source design/problem solving
Free availability, when possible, of software, data, and papers.
Do this more: Use a Tool like this to solicit Ideas internally 

Es ist echt erstaunlich, was die Hexbug Nanos so drauf haben. Ein wirklich kleiner, zuckersüßer und unheimlich flinker kleiner Kerl - ein Mikroroboter von Innovation First.
Ich vermute, daß zunehmend mehr von solchen intelligenten Spielzeugen auf den Markt kommen wird. Mit zunehmender Verkleinerung und entsprechender Engergieversorgung könnten solche Systeme auch wirklich bald nützlich werden. Man denke nur an Sensornetzwerke, die sich bewegen…nur eine Frage der Zeit.

Momentan kann ich die Hexbugs nur als Weihnachtsgeschenk empfehlen. Leider gibt es in Europa noch keinen Vertrieb, aber es besteht die Möglichkeit direkt zu bestellen und mittels DHL könnte es sich noch rechtzeitig bis Weihnachten ausgehen – ist aber dann doch etwas teurer.

Microsoft opened a new Microsoft Innovation Center in Vienna

On 21^st of October and representative from the Austrian government, City of Vienna, Chamber of Commerce, Hewlett Packard and Polycom and Jean Philippe Courtois officially launched the Microsoft Innovation Center Vienna.

The Microsoft Innovation Center in Vienna as a Platform for Innovation, Expertise and Quality

The Microsoft Innovation Center (M.I.C) in Vienna takes a central role as a new platform for numerous partners in the innovation sector and simultaneously will act as a source of inspiration for more innovation in the country. The M.I.C, via partnerships between industry, management and educational institutions, handles the areas of shortage of labor in the IT sector, Open Standards & Interoperability as well as Unified Communication

The first Microsoft Innovation Center in Vienna concentrates on three kinds of performances:

• Innovation Subjects: The M.I.C picks up high-priority strategy subjects in the surroundings of the Austrian software industry.
• Innovation Programs: These are medium- & long-term work plans that serve to render innovation subjects into concrete results.
• Innovation services: The Center brings in its own standardized services, which can be called up in the context of programs as well as individually.

Even with the first three focal points on the subjects of shortage of labor in the IT sector, Open Standards & Interoperability as well as Unified Communication, there are possibilities for joint projects, initiatives or long-term partnerships in different gradations.

The M.I.C is also founding a new, modern communication center in the new Technology Cluster at the Viennese Wienerberg.

The M.I.C is convincing due to its flexible type of construction, and its specially designed state of the art IKT and multimedia equipment is impressive. The M.I.C partners Hewlett-Packard Austria and Polycom have provided the foundation for innovative. The integration of Polycoms Unified Communication device with Microsoft Office Communication server will help us to increase outreach and reach new audiences.

Many people inspired and supported this project. Please let me thank you all for sharing your insights, ideas and feedback which helped us a lot to realize this Microsoft Innovation Center in Vienna.

Hry