---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 16277"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "16277"
heading: "High-performance computation and supportive research"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/16277"
units:
  - "Chapter 149 — National Energy Policy and Programs"
  - "Subchapter IX — Research and Development"
  - "Part E — Nuclear Energy"
---

# §16277. High-performance computation and supportive research

- (a) **Modeling and simulation—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall carry out a program to enhance the capabilities of the United States to develop new reactor technologies through high-performance computation modeling and simulation techniques.
- (b) **Coordination—** In carrying out the program under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall coordinate with relevant Federal [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) as described by the National Strategic Computing Initiative established by Executive Order 13702 (80 Fed. Reg. 46177 (July 29, 2015)), while taking into account the following objectives:
  - (1) Using expertise from the private sector, institutions of higher education, and the [National Laboratories](/usc/42/15801.md?p=3) to develop computational software and capabilities that prospective users may access to accelerate research and development of advanced nuclear reactor systems and reactor systems for space exploration.
  - (2) Developing computational tools to simulate and predict nuclear phenomena that may be validated through physical experimentation.
  - (3) Increasing the utility of the research infrastructure of the [Department](/usc/42/15801.md?p=1) by coordinating with the Advanced Scientific Computing Research program within the Office of Science.
  - (4) Leveraging experience from the Energy Innovation Hub for Modeling and Simulation.
  - (5) Ensuring that new experimental and computational tools are accessible to relevant research communities, including private sector entities engaged in nuclear energy technology development.
- (c) **Supportive research activities—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall consider support for additional research activities to maximize the utility of the research facilities of the [Department](/usc/42/15801.md?p=1), including physical processes—
  - (1) to simulate degradation of materials and behavior of fuel forms; and
  - (2) for validation of computational tools.
- (d) **Duplication—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall ensure the coordination of, and avoid unnecessary duplication of, the activities of the program under [subsection (a)](#a) with the activities of—
  - (1) other research entities of the [Department](/usc/42/15801.md?p=1), including the [National Laboratories](/usc/42/15801.md?p=3), the Advanced Research [Projects](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) [Agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1)–Energy, and the Advanced Scientific Computing Research program; and
  - (2) industry.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 957, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 888; Pub. L. 115–248, § 2(g), Sept. 28, 2018, 132 Stat. 3157; Pub. L. 116–260, div. Z, title II, § 2004, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2470.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Executive Order 13702, referred to in subsec. (b), is set out as a note under section 5501 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.

### Amendments

2020—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 116–260 added subsec. (d).

2018—Pub. L. 115–248 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to survey and plan regarding alternatives to industrial radioactive sources.