[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4998 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4998

  To establish and to expand partnerships that promote innovation and 
increase the economic and social impact of research by developing tools 
 and resources to connect new scientific discoveries to practical uses.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 13, 2010

   Mr. Hill introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                  Committee on Science and Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To establish and to expand partnerships that promote innovation and 
increase the economic and social impact of research by developing tools 
 and resources to connect new scientific discoveries to practical uses.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. PARTNERSHIPS FOR INNOVATION.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the National Science Foundation 
shall carry out a program to award merit-reviewed, competitive grants 
to institutions of higher education to establish and to expand 
partnerships that promote innovation and increase the economic and 
social impact of research by developing tools and resources to connect 
new scientific discoveries to practical uses.
    (b) Partnerships.--
            (1) In general.--To be eligible for funding under this 
        section, an institution of higher education must propose 
        establishment of a partnership that--
                    (A) includes at least one private sector entity; 
                and
                    (B) may include other institutions of higher 
                education, public sector institutions, and private 
                sector entities.
            (2) Priority.--In selecting grant recipients under this 
        section, the Director shall give priority to partnerships that 
        include one or more institutions of higher education that are 
        among the 100 institutions receiving, over the 3-year period 
        immediately preceding the awarding of grants, the highest 
        amount of research funding from the National Science Foundation 
        and at least one of the following:
                    (A) A minority serving institution.
                    (B) A primarily undergraduate institution.
                    (C) A 2-year college.
    (c) Program.--Proposals funded under this section shall seek to--
            (1) increase the economic or social impact of the most 
        promising research at the institution or institutions of higher 
        education that are members of the partnership through knowledge 
        transfer or commercialization;
            (2) increase the engagement of faculty and students across 
        multiple disciplines and departments, including faculty and 
        students in schools of business and other appropriate non-STEM 
        fields and disciplines in knowledge transfer activities;
            (3) enhance education and mentoring of students and faculty 
        in innovation and entrepreneurship through networks, courses, 
        and development of best practices and curricula;
            (4) strengthen the culture of the institution or 
        institutions of higher education to undertake and participate 
        in activities related to innovation and leading to economic or 
        social impact;
            (5) broaden the participation of all types of institutions 
        of higher education in activities to meet STEM workforce needs 
        and promote innovation and technology transfer; and
            (6) build lasting partnerships with local and regional 
        businesses, local and State governments, and other relevant 
        entities.
    (d) Additional Criteria.--In selecting grant recipients under this 
section, the Director shall also consider the extent to which the 
applicants are able to demonstrate evidence of institutional support 
for, and commitment to--
            (1) achieving the goals of the program as described in 
        subsection (c);
            (2) expansion to a university-wide program if the initial 
        proposal is not for a university-wide program; and
            (3) sustaining any new innovation tools and resources 
        generated from funding under this program.
    (e) Limitation.--No funds provided under this section may be used 
to construct or renovate a building or structure.
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