---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 3707"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "3707"
heading: "National Science Foundation Cooperative Research Centers"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/3707"
units:
  - "Chapter 63 — Technology Innovation"
---

# §3707. National Science Foundation Cooperative Research Centers

- (a) **Establishment and provisions—** The National Science Foundation shall provide assistance for the establishment of Cooperative Research [Centers](/usc/15/3703.md?p=2). Such [Centers](/usc/15/3703.md?p=2) shall be affiliated with a university, or other [nonprofit institution](/usc/15/3703.md?p=3), or a group thereof. The objective of the [Centers](/usc/15/3703.md?p=2) is to enhance technological innovation as provided in [section 3705(a) of this title](/usc/15/3705.md?p=a) through the conduct of activities as provided in [section 3705(b) of this title](/usc/15/3705.md?p=b).
- (b) **Planning grants—** The National Science Foundation is authorized to make available nonrenewable planning grants to universities or [nonprofit institutions](/usc/15/3703.md?p=3) for the purpose of developing the plan, as described under [section 3705(c)(3) of this title](/usc/15/3705.md?p=c-3).
- (c) **Terms and conditions—** Grants, contracts, and cooperative [agreements](/usc/15/7a.md?p=2) entered into by the National Science Foundation in execution of the powers and duties of the National Science Foundation under this chapter shall be governed by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 [[42 U.S.C. 1861](/usc/42/1861.md) et seq.] and other pertinent Acts.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–480, § 9, formerly § 8, Oct. 21, 1980, 94 Stat. 2316; Pub. L. 99–502, § 9(b)(11), (12), (e)(2)(B), Oct. 20, 1986, 100 Stat. 1796, 1797; renumbered § 9, Pub. L. 100–418, title V, § 5122(a)(1), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1438; Pub. L. 106–404, § 7(4), Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1745.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The National Science Foundation Act of 1950, referred to in subsec. (c), is act May 10, 1950, ch. 171, 64 Stat. 149, which is classified generally to chapter 16 (§ 1861 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1861 of Title 42 and Tables.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 9 of Pub. L. 96–480 was renumbered section 10 and is classified to section 3708 of this title.

### Amendments

2000—Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 106–404 made technical amendments to references in original act which appear in text as references to section 3705 of this title.

1986—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–502 substituted “Cooperative Research Centers” for “Centers for Industrial Technology” and struck out last sentence which read as follows: “The provisions of sections 3705(e) and 3705(f) of this title shall apply to Centers established under this section.”