---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 19311"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "19311"
heading: "Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/19311"
units:
  - "Chapter 163 — Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation"
  - "Subchapter VI — Miscellaneous Science and Technology Provisions"
  - "Part H — Energizing Technology Transfer"
  - "Subpart 2 — supporting technology development at the national laboratories"
---

# §19311. Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/19291.md?p=8) shall competitively award [grants](/usc/42/19291.md?p=5) to [National Laboratories](/usc/42/19291.md?p=7) for the purpose of establishing or supporting Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Programs.
- (b) **Purposes—** The purposes of such programs are to provide entrepreneurial fellows with access to [National Laboratory](/usc/42/19291.md?p=7) research facilities, [National Laboratory](/usc/42/19291.md?p=7) expertise, and mentorship to perform research and development and gain expertise that may be required or beneficial for the commercial application of research ideas.
- (c) **Entrepreneurial fellows—** An entrepreneurial fellow participating in a program described in [subsection (a)](#a) shall be provided with—
  - (1) opportunities for entrepreneurial training, professional development, and exposure to leaders from academia, industry, government, and finance who may serve as advisors to or partners of the fellow;
  - (2) financial and technical support for research, development, and commercial application activities;
  - (3) fellowship awards to cover costs of living, health insurance, and travel stipends for the duration of the fellowship; and
  - (4) any other resources determined appropriate by the [Secretary](/usc/42/19291.md?p=8).
- (d) **Program activities—** Each [National Laboratory](/usc/42/19291.md?p=7) that receives funding under this section shall support entrepreneurial fellows by providing—
  - (1) access to facilities and expertise within the [National Laboratory](/usc/42/19291.md?p=7);
  - (2) engagement with external stakeholders; and
  - (3) market and [customer](/usc/42/7275.md?p=5) development opportunities.
- (e) **Administration—** [National Laboratories](/usc/42/19291.md?p=7) that receive [grants](/usc/42/19291.md?p=5) under this section shall prioritize the support and success of the entrepreneurial fellow with regards to professional development and development of a relevant technology.
- (f) **Partnerships—** In carrying out a Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Program, a [National Laboratory](/usc/42/19291.md?p=7) may partner with an external entity, including—
  - (1) a [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) organization;
  - (2) an [institution of higher education](/usc/42/18901.md?p=13);
  - (3) a federally-owned [corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2); or
  - (4) a [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4) of 2 or more entities described in paragraphs [(1)](#f-1) through [(3)](#f-3).
- (g) **Metrics—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/19291.md?p=8) shall support the development of short-term and long-term metrics to assess the effectiveness of programs receiving a [grant](/usc/42/19291.md?p=5) under [subsection (a)](#a) in achieving the purposes of the program in [subsection (a)](#a).
- (h) **Evaluation—** In accordance with [section 16391a of this title](/usc/42/16391a.md), the [Secretary](/usc/42/19291.md?p=8) shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate an evaluation of the effectiveness of the programs under [subsection (a)](#a) based on the metrics developed pursuant to [subsection (g)](#g).
- (i) **Coordination—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/19291.md?p=8) shall oversee the planning and coordination of [grants](/usc/42/19291.md?p=5) under [subsection (a)](#a) and shall identify and disseminate best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) for achieving the purposes of [subsection (a)](#a) to [National Laboratories](/usc/42/19291.md?p=7) that receive [grants](/usc/42/19291.md?p=5) under this section.
- (j) **Interagency collaboration—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/19291.md?p=8) shall collaborate with other executive branch [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), including the [Department](/usc/42/19291.md?p=2) of Defense and other [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) with [Federal laboratories](/usc/42/18901.md?p=9), regarding opportunities to partner with [National Laboratories](/usc/42/19291.md?p=7) receiving a [grant](/usc/42/19291.md?p=5) under [subsection (a)](#a).
- (k) **Authorization of appropriations—** There are authorized to be appropriated to the [Secretary](/usc/42/19291.md?p=8) to carry out the activities authorized in this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title VI, § 10717, Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1704.)