ESO Commercial Microgravity Case Study 1: Novice Commercial Users (Medical) Vivo Biosciences Inc. - A Small Business Perspective

This case study was conducted in FY 2013 by the Emerging Space Office (ESO) to begin characterizing the kinds of opportunities and challenges encountered by small high-tech businesses who have never done RD in space and who serve terrestrial versus space markets, but who have legitimate business reasons for considering space research and development for generating novel or improved products. Vivo Biosciences Inc. (VBI) is an award winning company with a customer base that includes major pharmaceutical companies. However, despite a continuing series of successes, VBI believes that they are about at the limit of the performance their product can achieve on Earth and gravity is the problem. This Case Study documented VBI's experience as the novice company attempted its first steps in the process of conducting research and development in space. The report presents insights applicable to commercial suppliers of microgravity services as well as ISS support of new commercial users, especially small businesses interested in using space for product development.