Title VI — Innovation and Technology Transfer

114th Congress · Approved Jan 6, 2017 · 130 Stat. 2969

TITLE VI Innovation and Technology Transfer

SEC. 601. Innovation Corps.

(a)

Findings.— Congress makes the following findings:

(1)

The National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (referred to in this section as the “I-Corps”) was established to foster a national innovation ecosystem by encouraging institutions, scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs to identify and explore the innovation and commercial potential of National Science Foundation-funded research well beyond the laboratory.

(2)

Through I-Corps, the Foundation invests in entrepreneurship and commercialization education, training, and mentoring that can ultimately lead to the practical deployment of technologies, products, processes, and services that improve the Nation’s competitiveness, promote economic growth, and benefit society.

(3)

By building networks of entrepreneurs, educators, mentors, institutions, and collaborations, and supporting specialized education and training, I-Corps is at the leading edge of a strong, lasting foundation for an American innovation ecosystem.

(4)

By translating federally funded research to a commercial stage more quickly and efficiently, programs like the I-Corps create new jobs and companies, help solve societal problems, and provide taxpayers with a greater return on their investment in research.

(5)

The I-Corps program model has a strong record of success that should be replicated at all Federal science agencies.

(b)

Sense of Congress.— It is the sense of Congress that—

(1)

commercialization of federally funded research can improve the Nation’s competitiveness, grow the economy, and benefit society;

(2)

I-Corps is a useful tool in promoting the commercialization of federally funded research by training researchers funded by the Foundation in entrepreneurship and commercialization;

(3)

I-Corps should continue to build a network of entrepreneurs, educators, mentors, and institutions and support specialized education and training;

(4)

researchers other than those funded by the Foundation may also benefit from the education and training described in paragraph (3); and

(5)

I-Corps should continue to promote a strong innovation system by investing in and supporting female entrepreneurs through mentorship, education, and training because they are historically underrepresented in entrepreneurial fields.

(c)

I-Corps Program.—

(1)

In general.— In order to promote a strong, lasting foundation for the national innovation ecosystem and increase the positive economic and social impact of federally funded research, the Director of the Foundation shall set forth eligibility requirements and carry out a program to award grants for entrepreneurship and commercialization education, training, and mentoring.

(2)

Expansion of i-corps.—

(A)

In general.— The Director—

(i)

shall encourage the development and expansion of I-Corps and other training programs that focus on professional development, including education in entrepreneurship and commercialization; and

(ii)

may establish an agreement with another Federal science agency—

(I)

to make researchers, students, and institutions funded by that agency eligible to participate in the I-Corps program; or

(II)

to assist that agency with the design and implementation of its own program that is similar to the I-Corps program.

(B)

Partnership funding.— In negotiating an agreement with another Federal science agency under subparagraph (A)(ii), the Director shall require that Federal science agency to provide funding for—

(i)

the training for researchers, students, and institutions selected for the I-Corps program; and

(ii)

the locations that Federal science agency designates as regional and national infrastructure for science and engineering entrepreneurship.

(3)

Follow-on grants.—

(A)

In general.— Subject to subparagraph (B), the Director, in consultation with the Director of the Small Business Innovation Research Program, shall make funds available for competitive grants, including to I-Corps participants, to help support—

(i)

prototype or proof-of-concept development; and

(ii)

such activities as the Director considers necessary to build local, regional, and national infrastructure for science and engineering entrepreneurship.

(B)

Limitation.— Grants under subparagraph (A) shall be limited to participants with innovations that because of the early stage of development are not eligible to participate in a Small Business Innovation Research Program or a Small Business Technology Transfer Program.

(4)

State and local partnerships.— The Director may engage in partnerships with State and local governments, economic development organizations, and nonprofit organizations to provide access to the I-Corps program to support entrepreneurship education and training for researchers, students, and institutions under this subsection.

(5)

Reports.— The Director shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a biennial report on I-Corps program efficacy, including metrics on the effectiveness of the program. Each Federal science agency participating in the I-Corps program or that implements a similar program under paragraph (2)(A) shall contribute to the report.

(6)

Definitions.— In this subsection, the terms “Small Business Innovation Research Program” and “Small Business Technology Transfer Program” have the meanings given those terms in section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638).

SEC. 602. Translational Research Grants.

(a)

Sense of Congress.— It is the sense of Congress that—

(1)

commercialization of federally funded research may benefit society and the economy; and

(2)

not-for-profit organizations support the commercialization of federally funded research by providing useful business and technical expertise to researchers.

(b)

Commercialization Promotion.— The Director of the Foundation shall continue to award grants on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis to eligible entities to promote the commercialization of federally funded research results.

(c)

Use of Funds.— Activities supported by grants under this section may include—

(1)

identifying Foundation-sponsored research and technologies that have the potential for accelerated commercialization;

(2)

supporting prior or current Foundation-sponsored investigators, institutions of higher education, and non-profit organizations that partner with an institution of higher education in undertaking proof-of-concept work, including development of prototypes of technologies that are derived from Foundation-sponsored research and have potential market value;

(3)

promoting sustainable partnerships between Foundation-funded institutions, industry, and other organizations within academia and the private sector with the purpose of accelerating the transfer of technology;

(4)

developing multi-disciplinary innovation ecosystems which involve and are responsive to specific needs of academia and industry; and

(5)

providing professional development, mentoring, and advice in entrepreneurship, project management, and technology and business development to innovators.

(d)

Eligibility.—

(1)

In general.— The following organizations may be eligible for grants under this section:

(A)

Institutions of higher education.

(B)

Public or nonprofit technology transfer organizations.

(C)

A nonprofit organization that partners with an institution of higher education.

(D)

A consortia of 2 or more of the organizations described under subparagraphs (A) through (C).

(2)

Lead organizations.— Any eligible organization under paragraph (1) may apply as a lead organization.

(e)

Applications.— An eligible entity seeking a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Director at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director may require.

SEC. 603. Optics and Photonics Technology Innovations.

(a)

Findings.— Congress makes the following findings:

(1)

The 1998 National Research Council Report, “Harnessing Light” presented a comprehensive overview on the importance of optics and photonics to various sectors of the United States economy.

(2)

In 2012, in response to increased coordination and investment by other nations, the National Research Council released a follow up study recommending a national photonics initiative to increase collaboration and coordination among United States industry, Federal and State government, and academia to identify and further advance areas of photonics critical to regaining United States competitiveness and maintaining national security.

(3)

Publicly-traded companies focused on optics and photonics in the United States enable more than $3 trillion in revenue annually.

(b)

Sense of Congress.— It is the sense of Congress that—

(1)

optics and photonics research and technologies promote United States global competitiveness in industry sectors, including telecommunications and information technology, energy, healthcare and medicine, manufacturing, and defense;

(2)

Federal science agencies, industry, and academia should seek partnerships with each other to develop basic research in optics and photonics into more mature technologies and capabilities; and

(3)

each Federal science agency, as appropriate, should—

(A)

survey and identify optics and photonics-related programs within that Federal science agency and share results with other Federal science agencies for the purpose of generating multiple applications and uses;

(B)

partner with the private sector and academia to leverage knowledge and resources to maximize opportunities for innovation in optics and photonics;

(C)

explore research and development opportunities, including Federal and private sector-sponsored internships, to ensure a highly trained optics and photonics workforce in the United States;

(D)

encourage partnerships between academia and industry to promote improvement in the education of optics and photonics technicians at the secondary school level, undergraduate level, and 2-year college level, including through the Foundation’s Advanced Technological Education program; and

(E)

assess existing programs and explore alternatives to modernize photonics laboratory equipment in undergraduate institutions in the United States to facilitate critical hands-on learning.

SEC. 604. United States Chief Technology Officer.

(a)

Short Title.— This section may be cited as the “United States Chief Technology Officer Act”.

(b)

In General.— Section 203 the National Science and Technology Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C. 6612) is amended—

(1)

by inserting “ (b) Associate Directors.—” before “ The President is authorized” and indenting appropriately;

(2)

by inserting “ (a) In General.—” before “ There shall be” and indenting appropriately; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

“(c) Chief Technology Officer.—Subject to subsection (b), the President is authorized to designate 1 of the Associate Directors under that subsection as a United States Chief Technology Officer.”

SEC. 605. National Research Council Study on Technology for Emergency Notifications on Campuses.

(a)

In General.— Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall enter into an arrangement with the National Research Council to conduct and complete a study to identify and review technologies employed at institutions of higher education to provide notifications to students, faculty, and other personnel during emergency situations in accordance with law.

(b)

Contents.— The study shall address—

(1)

the timeliness of notifications provided by the technologies during emergency situations;

(2)

the durability of the technologies in delivering the notifications to students, faculty, and other personnel; and

(3)

the limitations exhibited by the technologies to successfully deliver the notifications not more than 30 seconds after the institution of higher education transmits the notifications.

(c)

Report Required.— Not later than 1 year after the date that the National Research Council enters into the arrangement under subsection (a), the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall submit to Congress a report on the study, including recommendations for addressing any limitations identified under subsection (b)(3).

Title VI — Innovation and Technology Transfer