[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 215 (Tuesday, November 8, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67459-67461]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-24250]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Accelerating Innovations in Emerging Technologies

AGENCY: Office of Science, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Request for information (RFI).

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SUMMARY: The Office of Science in the Department of Energy (DOE) 
invites interested parties to provide input relevant to developing 
approaches for accelerating innovations in emerging technologies to 
drive scientific discovery to sustainable production of new 
technologies across the innovation continuum; train a science, 
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce to support 
21st century industries; and meet the nation's needs for abundant clean 
energy, a sustainable environment, and national security.

DATES: Responses to the RFI must be received by December 23, 2022.

ADDRESSES: DOE is using the www.regulations.gov system for the

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submission and posting of public comments in this proceeding. All 
comments in response to this RFI are, therefore, to be submitted 
electronically through www.regulations.gov via the web form accessed by 
following the ``Submit a Formal Comment'' link.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions may be submitted to 
[email protected] or Natalia Melcer at (301) 903-0821.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Research drives innovations in technologies that ensure a vibrant 
economy and secure the future of the nation. The United States is a 
global leader in research and development (R&D), with activities 
generally focused on two areas. Federally-funded scientific research 
focuses on discovery and use-inspired research, which is commonly 
conducted at universities and national/federal laboratories. Applied 
research, development, and technology demonstration activities are 
funded by both federal sources and industry and are conducted in 
university, national laboratory, and industry settings, focusing on 
demonstrating the application of an innovation to yield a product that 
can be prototyped, scaled up, and deployed in the marketplace. The gap 
between these two areas of R&D is often referred to as the ``valley of 
death'' because science-driven research often does not consider the 
factors required to drive innovations to sustainable production, and 
applied R&D and industry often find it difficult to transform early-
stage discoveries to mature, deployable technologies. As a result, 
transitioning fundamental discoveries to new technologies in the 
marketplace has traditionally been challenging. Further, the innovation 
process is not linear, and technical bottlenecks arising on the 
technology demonstration side often require fundamental science 
breakthroughs (``technology pull''); conversely, fundamental science 
breakthroughs can drive new technologies (``science push''). Closely 
coupling these research, development, demonstration, and deployment 
(RDD&D) processes in a more circular manner will optimize and expedite 
the development and deployment of next generation technologies.
    Bridging these gaps requires a holistic, ``end to end'' approach 
that closely integrates basic scientific and engineering research 
across multiple disciplines with applied and industrial activities to 
ensure that innovations reach the marketplace. Long-term success in 
driving the innovation continuum of research, development, 
demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) will also require STEM workers 
who are trained broadly across the spectrum of science and engineering 
to propel discovery, innovation, scale-up, and production of new 
technologies for the future.
    Beyond accelerating innovations in emerging technologies, these 
research activities have the potential to contribute to local and 
regional ecosystems to catalyze more innovation, workforce development, 
entrepreneurship, and economic growth in these regions. This ``place-
based innovation'' will leverage partnerships with local or regional 
private and public organizations that can further lead to a vibrant 
culture to support innovation and industries of the future.
    The DOE Office of Science (SC) seeks input on research approaches 
that have the potential to push the discovery and creation of 
innovations towards the production/commercialization of future 
technologies that will have important public and commercial impact. 
These approaches would necessarily bring together trans-disciplinary 
teams of scientists and engineers in diverse fields, taking advantage 
of talent from national laboratories, regional universities, and 
industry. These teams will combine key technology focus areas 
(described later) to achieve the overarching goal of accelerating 
place-based innovation with an ``end to end'' approach that fully 
integrates ``science push'' and ``technology pull'' processes to guide 
the S&T research. Further, to emphasize place-based research growth, 
approaches should be considered that draw on regional resources and 
expertise to support the innovation process and allow wholly new 
concepts and processes to thrive.
    Breakthrough scientific discoveries and technological innovation 
are needed in areas vital to building an innovation economy for the 
21st century. As the nation's lead federal agency supporting 
fundamental scientific research related to energy, SC seeks to drive 
scientific discovery in ten key areas to yield sustainable production 
of new technologies and meet the nation's needs for abundant clean 
energy, a sustainable environment, and national security. These ten key 
technology focus areas include:
     Artificial intelligence, machine learning, autonomy, and 
related advances;
     High performance computing, microelectronics, and advanced 
computer hardware and software;
     Quantum information science and technology;
     Advanced manufacturing and automation;
     Biopreparedness;
     Advanced communications technology and immersive 
technology;
     Biotechnology, medical technology, genomics, and synthetic 
biology;
     Data storage, data management, distributed ledger 
technologies, and cybersecurity, including biometrics;
     Advanced energy and industrial efficiency technologies, 
such as batteries and advanced nuclear technologies, including but not 
limited to for the purposes of electric generation; and
     Advanced materials science, including composites, 2D 
materials, other next-generation materials, and related manufacturing 
technologies.
    The SC mission is to deliver scientific discoveries and major 
scientific tools to transform our understanding of nature and advance 
the energy, economic, and national security of the United States. 
Within this mission, SC supports fundamental research in applied 
mathematics, biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, isotope 
R&D, materials science, and physics that catalyze technical 
breakthroughs and innovations across these ten key technology focus 
areas. For example, fundamental advances in materials and chemical 
processes are required to achieve goals for clean, affordable, and 
abundant energy generation, storage, and use. Breakthroughs in 2D 
materials and new electrolytes could enhance ion transport in next-
generation batteries to achieve fast-charging, high-power, and high-
energy-density requirements needed to power the nation's transportation 
fleet. Similarly, new materials that can withstand extremes of 
radiation and temperature could support the development of future 
fission and fusion reactors with high efficiencies and long lifetimes. 
To minimize energy costs and wastes and meet demanding design 
requirements, new approaches will be needed for the manufacturing of 
next-generation energy technologies, requiring control of materials and 
chemical processes from the atomic and molecular levels. Revealing the 
rules of nature could produce breakthroughs in biotechnology, medical 
technology, and biopreparedness by tailoring biological processes to 
produce new chemicals, materials, or medical therapeutics. To enable 
continued advances in computing and power technologies, a fundamental 
rethinking is needed of the science behind the materials and chemistry, 
physics, synthesis and fabrication technologies, architectures,

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algorithms, and software for microelectronics. Computational modeling 
could enable the design of highly selective separation media to 
increase the efficiency of isotope production approaches. Finally, to 
realize a next-generation technology may require advances in multiple 
key technology areas, such as combining advances in new manufacturing, 
materials, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to produce 
next-generation batteries.

Questions for Input

    This RFI is an initial step in improving SC's understanding of the 
challenges and opportunities associated with transitioning new 
discoveries to high-value technologies to drive the economy of the 
future. The RFI is a solicitation for public input to help identify 
approaches that can accelerate the process from scientific discovery to 
sustainable production of new technologies across the innovation 
continuum. Responses should be limited to the SC mission areas, as 
described in the Background section. (Note: Responses submitted to the 
request for information on advanced computing ecosystems do not need to 
be submitted again: https://sam.gov/opp/8c35a6cc1692492e94c337ba645ecce5/view).
    Responses are requested for the questions listed. Respondents may 
provide input regarding any or all of these questions. Each response 
should be numbered to match the specific question listed.
    (1) What are the barriers or challenges that need to be addressed 
to transition basic scientific discoveries to applied technologies?
    (2) What opportunities are there to build research teams that 
bridge the discovery to production spectrum, providing an ``end to 
end'' approach that fully integrates ``science push'' and ``technology 
pull'' processes to guide research to realize new technologies?
    (3) What new opportunities could be realized by combining two or 
more of the ten key technologies to accelerate the development of 
innovative products?
    (4) What specific metrics should be used to measure the success of 
new approaches for accelerating technology development?
    (5) To prepare for future industries, what opportunities are there 
for ensuring a robust workforce related to the ten key technologies? 
What skills are needed for students preparing for a career, and which 
of these skills are not commonly available in educational institutions?
    (6) What specialized facilities or capabilities are needed to 
support research activities related to the ten key technology areas? 
Are there new capabilities needed that could be provided through the 
scientific user facilities at the DOE National Laboratories, such as 
the light and neutron sources, particle accelerators, nanoscience 
centers, and high-performance computing facilities (https://science.osti.gov/User-Facilities)?
    (7) What new mechanisms will help a region, especially those 
centered on underserved communities, establish a vibrant innovation 
ecosystem to foster training, recruitment, and retention of technical 
personnel, support spinoffs, and growth of existing companies, develop 
entrepreneurs, and catalyze future industries in the key technologies?
    Comments containing references, studies, research, and other 
empirical data that are not widely published should include copies of 
the referenced materials. Note that comments will be made publicly 
available as submitted.

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on November 2, 
2022, by Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, Director, Office of Science, pursuant to 
delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy. The document with the 
original signature and date is maintained by DOE. For administrative 
purposes only, and in compliance with requirements of the Office of the 
Federal Register, the undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer 
has been authorized to sign and submit the document in electronic 
format for publication, as an official document of the Department of 
Energy. This administrative process in no way alters the legal effect 
of this document upon publication in the Federal Register.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on November 2, 2022.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2022-24250 Filed 11-7-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P