[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 35 (Friday, February 21, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10195-10196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-03490]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request; 
Grantee Reporting Requirements for the Industry-University Cooperative 
Research Centers (IUCRC) Program

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to 
renew this collection. In accordance with the requirements of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are providing opportunity for 
public comment on this action. After obtaining and considering public 
comment, NSF will prepare the submission requesting Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) clearance of this collection for no longer 
than 3 years.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by April 21, 
2020 to be assured consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable. Send comments to address 
below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance 
Officer, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite 
W18200, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone (703) 292-7556; or send 
email to [email protected]. Individuals who use a telecommunications 
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay 
Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339, which is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 
days a week, 365 days a year (including Federal holidays).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title of Collection: Grantee Reporting Requirements for the 
Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers (IUCRC) Program.
    OMB Number: 3145-0088.
    Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2020.
    Type of Request: Revision to and extension of approval of an 
information collection.

Proposed Project

    The NSF's Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships (IIP), 
within the Engineering Directorate, serves a wide range of grantees 
across 5 major programs.
    The IUCRC program provides a structure for academic researchers to 
conduct fundamental, pre-competitive research of shared interest to 
industry and government organizations. These organizations pay 
membership fees to a consortium so that they can collectively envision 
and fund research, with at least 90% of Member funds allocated to the 
direct costs of these shared research projects.
    IUCRCs are formed around research areas of strategic interest to 
U.S. industry. Industry is defined very broadly to include companies 
(large and small), startups and non-profit organizations. Principal 
Investigators form a Center around emerging research topics of current 
research interest, in a pre-competitive space but with clear pathways 
to applied research and commercial development. Industry partners join 
at inception, as an existing Center grows, or they inspire the creation 
of a new Center by recruiting university partners to leverage NSF 
support. Government agencies participate in IUCRCs as Members or by 
partnering directly with NSF at the strategic level.

[[Page 10196]]

    Universities, academic researchers, and students benefit from IUCRC 
participation through the research funding, the establishment and 
growth of industry partnerships, and educational and career placement 
opportunities for students. Industry Members benefit by accessing 
knowledge, facilities, equipment, and intellectual property in a highly 
cost-efficient model; leveraging Center research outcomes in their 
future proprietary projects; interacting in an informal, collaborative 
way with other private sector and government entities with shared 
interests; and identifying and recruiting talent. NSF provides funding 
to support Center administrative costs and a governance framework to 
manage membership, operations, and evaluation.
    Sites within Centers will be required to provide data to NSF and/or 
its authorized representatives (contractors and/or grantees) annually--
after the award expires for their fiscal year of activity--for the life 
of the Phase I, and if applicable, Phase II, and Phase III award(s).
    Information collected are both quantitative and descriptive; they 
will provide managing Program Directors a means to monitor the 
operational and financial states of the Centers and ensure that the 
award is in good standing. These data will also allow NSF to assess the 
Centers in terms of intellectual, broader, and commercial impacts that 
are core to our review criteria. Finally, in compliance with the 
Evidence Act of 2019, information collected will be used in satisfying 
congressional requests, and supporting the agency's policymaking and 
reporting needs.
    In addition to the agency's annual report requirement, Principal 
Investigators (IUCRC Center and Site Directors) of the awards are 
required to provide the following information:

Center-Related Information

     Center Data Reporting
    [cir] A comprehensive annual survey collecting information on 
structure, funding, membership, personnel, and outcomes of the Center 
during a given reporting period. A Center must submit data for each 
fiscal year no later than September 30 of each year of operation, as 
well as after the award expires to describe its final year of activity.
Certification of Membership
    [cir] A list of members and membership fees collected by the Center 
and certified by the respective university's Sponsored Research Office 
(SRO), Total Program Income collected during the reporting period, In-
kind Contributions during the reporting period, Allocation and 
Expenditures of each Site's research funds by project
Site Research Projects Summary
    [cir] A list all projects in which the Site participated, including 
each project's goals; research tasks; key milestones, metrics/
deliverables; developing results or outcomes; project budgets; and 
personnel.
 Assessment Coordinator Report
    [cir] An independent assessment of the annual Center activities 
(this report is done by an independent evaluator, and uploaded by the 
Principal Investigator as part of the NSF annual reporting requirement)

Logistical Information

 IUCRC Directory
    [cir] IUCRCs must provide accurate and current information for the 
online IUCRC directory (http://iucrc.org/centers). Instructions for 
updating and reporting information can be found at http://www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/iucrc/directory/instructions.jsp

Optional

 IUCRC Impact Stories for Public Distribution
    IUCRCs are highly encouraged to submit information on their 
emerging research highlights and significant breakthrough stories to 
NSF to showcase their impact to the public and industry (see http://www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/iucrc), including new products, technology creation 
and/or enhancements, intellectual property of significant commercial 
relevance, and major improvements in cost-savings, efficiency, 
sustainability, productivity, and job growth.

    Not only do these data provide valuable information on program 
activities, products, outcomes, and impact, they also help to paint a 
detailed longitudinal view of the program, provide insights for 
benchmarking individual Center performance, advancing industry-
university engagement approaches, strengthening future workforce, and 
contribute to the Nation's research and technology ecosystem.
    Use of the Information: The information collected is for internal 
use by NSF, congressional requests, and for securing future funding for 
continued IUCRC program maintenance and growth.
    Estimate Burden on the Public: Estimated at 16 hours per award for 
250 sites for a total of 4,000 hours (per year).
    Respondents: IUCRC Awardees (Academic Institutions).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: One from each IUCRC site 
(estimated: 250 active sites/year).
    Comments: Comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Agency, including whether the information shall 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of 
the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information on 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology; and (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.

    Dated: February 18, 2020.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2020-03490 Filed 2-20-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P