THE MISSISSIPPI NASA EPSCOR DIRECTOR PROPOSES A COMPETITIVE SEED GRANT PROGRAM TO STRENGTHEN MISSISSIPPI S RESEARCH COMPETITIVENESS. INDIVIDUAL SEED GRANTS WILL (A) BUILD ON THE CURRENT STRENGTHS OF INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE CONSORTIUM (B) FOCUS THESE STRENGTHS ON ISSUES OF PARTICULAR RELEVANCE TO NASA AND (C) INCREASE THE APPLICABILITY OF MISSISSIPPI S RESEARCH TO AREAS OF INTEREST WITHIN NASA. MSSGC USES THE RID PROGRAM TO FILL A UNIQUE ROLE BY INFUSING NASA INVESTMENT INTO HUMAN RESEARCH ASSET DEVELOPMENT. THE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE INITIATION FUNDS TO SET IN MOTION THE MATURATION OF INNOVATIVE RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY VENTURES THAT ARE RELEVANT TO NASA AND NASA RELATED MISSISSIPPI INDUSTRY. THE COMPETITIVE SEED GRANT OPPORTUNITIES ARE FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING AND/OR MATURING RESEARCH ACTIVITIES THAT EXPLORE PROMISING RESEARCH AVENUES ESTABLISH OR STRENGTHEN COLLABORATION BETWEEN RESEARCHERS IN THE JURISDICTION AND ENHANCE MS RESEARCH RELEVANCE TO NASA THROUGH COMMUNICATION/COLLABORATION WITH NASA SCIENTISTS.