---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 1862s–9"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "1862s–9"
heading: "Translational research grants"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/1862s-9"
units:
  - "Chapter 16 — National Science Foundation"
---

# §1862s–9. 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](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) 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](/usc/42/11851.md?p=7) 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](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) 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](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) technology transfer organizations.
    - (C) A [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) organization that partners with an [institution of higher education](/usc/42/11851.md?p=7).
    - (D) A consortia of 2 or more of the organizations described under subparagraphs [(A)](#d-1-A) through [(C)](#d-1-C).
  - (2) **Lead organizations—** Any eligible organization under [paragraph (1)](#d-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](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) may require.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 114–329, title VI, § 602, Jan. 6, 2017, 130 Stat. 3035.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act, and not as part of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 which comprises this chapter.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Definitions

For definitions of terms used in this section, see section 2 of Pub. L. 114–329, set out as a note under section 1862s of this title.