--- kind: "section" citation: "51 U.S.C. § 40903" title: "51" title_heading: "National and Commercial Space Programs" number: "40903" heading: "Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research—merit grant competition requirements" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/51/40903" units: - "Subtitle IV — Aeronautics and Space Research and Education" - "Chapter 409 — Miscellaneous" --- # §40903. Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research—merit grant competition requirements - (a) **Definition of Eligible State.—** In this section, the term “eligible [State](/usc/51/40302.md?p=10)” means a [State](/usc/51/40302.md?p=10) designated by the [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) as eligible to compete in the National Science Foundation’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research. - (b) **Competition.—** Making use of the existing infrastructure established in eligible [States](/usc/51/40302.md?p=10) by the National Science Foundation, the [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) shall conduct a merit grant competition among the eligible [States](/usc/51/40302.md?p=10) in areas of research important to the mission of the [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1). With respect to a grant application by an eligible [State](/usc/51/40302.md?p=10), the [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) shall consider— - (1) the application’s merit and relevance to the mission of the [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1); - (2) the potential for the grant to serve as a catalyst to enhance the ability of researchers in the [State](/usc/51/40302.md?p=10) to become more competitive for regular [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1) funding; - (3) the potential for the grant to improve the environment for science, mathematics, and engineering education in the [State](/usc/51/40302.md?p=10); and - (4) the need to ensure the maximum distribution of grants among eligible [States](/usc/51/40302.md?p=10), consistent with merit. - (c) **Supplemental Grants.—** The [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) shall endeavor, where appropriate, to supplement grants made under [subsection (b)](#b) with such grants for fellowships, traineeships, equipment, or instrumentation as are available. - (d) **Information in Annual Budget Submission.—** In order to ensure that research expertise and talent throughout the Nation is developed and engaged in [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1) research and education activities, the [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1) shall, as part of its annual budget submission, detail additional steps that can be taken to further integrate the participating eligible [States](/usc/51/40302.md?p=10) in both existing and new or emerging [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1) research programs and center activities. ## Source credit (Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3392; Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title VII, § 10851(e), Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1754.) ## Notes | Historical and Revision Notes | | | | --- | --- | --- | | Revised
Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) | | 40903(a) | 42 U.S.C. 2467b(c). | Pub. L. 102–588, title III, § 304, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5120. | | 40903(b) | 42 U.S.C. 2467b(a). | | | 40903(c) | 42 U.S.C. 2467b(b). | | | 40903(d) | 42 U.S.C. 17781(b). | Pub. L. 110–422, title VII, § 704(b), Oct. 15, 2008, 122 Stat. 4802. | In subsection (d) the words “eligible States” are substituted for “EPSCoR States” for clarity and consistency in the section. ### Editorial Notes ### Amendments 2022—Pub. L. 117–167, § 10851(e)(1), substituted “Established” for “Experimental” in section catchline. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 117–167, § 10851(e)(2), substituted “Established” for “Experimental”. ### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries ### Congressional Findings and Policy Pub. L. 102–588, title III, §§ 301–303, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5119, provided that: SHORT TITLE. “This title [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research on Space and Aeronautics Act’. FINDINGS.“Congress finds that— the report of the Advisory Committee on the Future of the United States Space Program has provided a framework within which a consensus on the goals of the space program can be developed; the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s space science and applications, aeronautical research and technology, and space research and technology programs will serve as the fulcrum for future initiatives by the United States in civil space and aviation; colleges and universities in many States are currently not able to compete successfully for research grants awarded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration through its space science and applications, aeronautical research and technology, and space research and technology programs; balanced programs of space science and applications, aeronautical research and technology, and space research and technology should include initiatives designed to foster competitive research capacity in all geographic areas of the Nation; and by strengthening the competitive research capacity in those geographic areas of the Nation which are not currently fully competitive, the education and training of scientists and engineers important to the future of the United States civil space and aviation programs will be fostered. POLICY.“It is the policy of the United States that— the Administrator [of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration], in planning for national programs in space science and applications, aeronautical research, space flight, and exploration, should ensure the resilience of the space and aeronautics research infrastructure; a stable and balanced program of space science and applications, aeronautical research and technology, and space research and technology should include programs to assure that geographic areas of the United States that currently do not successfully participate in competitive space and aeronautical research activities are enabled to become more competitive; and programs to improve competitive capabilities should be a part of the research and the educational activities of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.”