[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 18 (Friday, January 27, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5323-5325]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-01440]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Activation Energy: DOE's National Laboratories as Catalysts of 
Regional Innovation

AGENCY: Office of Science, Office of Technology Transitions, Department 
of Energy.

ACTION: Request for information (RFI).

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science and the 
Office of Technology Transitions invite interested parties to provide 
input on place-based innovation opportunities that support the DOE 
mission.

DATES: Responses to this RFI must be received by March 28, 2023.

ADDRESSES: DOE is using the www.regulations.gov system for the 
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 near the top right of 
the Federal Register web page for this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
may be submitted to Charles Russomanno, [email protected], 
(202) 378-7815, Susannah Howieson, [email protected], (202) 
586-5121, Erik Hadland, [email protected], (240) 425-8125, 
or Margaux Murali, [email protected], (202) 586-3698.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Motivation

    DOE is exploring opportunities to strengthen place-based innovation 
activities leveraging the DOE National Laboratories and Sites.\1\
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    \1\ DOE Laboratories and sites are Ames Laboratory, Argonne 
National Laboratory, Bettis and Knolls Atomic Power Laboratories, 
Brookhaven National Laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Kansas 
City National Security Campus, Lawrence Berkeley National 
Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Los Alamos 
National Laboratory, National Energy Technology Laboratory and 
Albany Research Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Nevada 
National Security Site, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Pacific 
Northwest National Laboratory, Pantex Plant, Princeton Plasma 
Physics Laboratory, Savannah River National Laboratory, Sandia 
National Laboratory, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Thomas 
Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, and Y-12 National Security 
Complex.

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[[Page 5324]]

Background

    Federally funded research and development (R&D) has catalyzed 
innovation that has driven economic growth in the form of new 
businesses, more jobs, increased wages, higher standards of living, and 
environmental sustainability. However, growth has been primarily 
localized in certain United States (U.S.) metropolitan regions that 
have become flourishing innovation ecosystems,\2\ Elements of a 
thriving innovation ecosystem include, but are not limited to: \3\
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    \2\ Gruber, J., & Johnson, S. (2019). Jump-starting America: How 
breakthrough science can revive economic growth and the American 
dream; Atkinson, R., Muro, M., & Whiton, J. (2019). The Case for 
Growth Centers. The Brookings Institution & Information Technology 
and Innovation Foundation.
    \3\ Kauffman F Bell-Masterson, Jordan and Stangler, Dane, 
Measuring an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (March 2015). Available at 
SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2580336 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2580336; Evolution of the Industrial Innovation 
Ecosystem of Resource-Based Cities (RBCs): A Case Study of Shanxi 
Province, China, Jun Yao, Huajing Li 1,*, Di Shang and Luyang Ding, 
2021., https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/20/11350/pdf; MIT's 
Stakeholder Framework for Building and Accelerating Innovation 
Ecosystems, Budden, P, Murray, F., 2019, https://innovation.mit.edu/assets/MIT-Stakeholder-Framework_Innovation-Ecosystems.pdf; An MIT 
Framework for Innovation Ecosystem Policy, Budden, P, Murray, F, 
2018, https://innovation.mit.edu/assets/Framework-Ecosystem-Policy_Oct18.pdf; Kauffman Foundation, Universities and 
Entrepreneurial Ecosystems, https://www.kauffmanfellows.org/journal_posts/universities-and-entrepreneurial-ecosystems-stanford-silicon-valley-success; ``What are the key components of an 
entrepreneurial ecosystem in a developing economy? A longitudinal 
empirical study on technology business incubators in China'', 
Xiangfei Yuana, Haijing Haob, Chenghua Guan, Alex Pentland, https://arxiv.org/pdf/2103.08131.
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     Talent: An educated and skilled workforce, as well as 
training programs to create and sustain this talent.
     Infrastructure: For research, commercial, industrial, and 
residential purposes--inclusive of physical spaces/facilities, 
utilities, transportation (including quality roadways and ready access 
to airports), and other features required for residential, industrial, 
and commercial purposes.
     Technology: Accessible scientific and technical knowledge 
throughout the research, development, demonstration, and deployment 
(RDD&D) continuum for commercialization and manufacturing.
     Capital: Access to financial resources (i.e., venture 
capital, private equity, angel investors, etc.) and technical resources 
(i.e., scientific and manufacturing equipment).
     Social Capital: Local networking to incentivize and 
support the existence, development, and growth of innovation programs 
and companies.
     Policy: Local and regional policies and incentives that 
support innovation-driven enterprises, economic development, and 
planning within a regional innovation center.
     Collaboration with Industry: Mutually beneficial 
partnerships between public and private sectors to facilitate the 
exchange of knowledge, accelerate the commercialization of 
technologies, promote workforce development, and increase awareness of 
promising research, as well as provide directions for new research 
needs.
     Community: Structure that supports the development, 
accessibility, inclusivity, environmental sustainability, and 
engagement with the local community in an equitable way.
    Place-based innovation initiatives can be used to cultivate 
innovation ecosystems in regions that have yet to realize benefits from 
the innovation renaissance of the past few decades. Building on 
existing research institutions, industrial infrastructure, 
concentrations of workforce skills, and connections to regional 
philanthropic and other civil society institutions, DOE can contribute 
to supporting localized economic growth models which will promote new 
regional innovation ecosystems. DOE seeks to stimulate innovation in 
regions surrounding the National Laboratories and Sites by:
     Providing key RDD&D to accelerate commercialization of 
breakthrough technologies;
     Driving development in the industrial and technology 
sectors of the future, such as innovations in advanced manufacturing, 
and supply chains, among others;
     Fostering sustainable and equitable economic growth in 
underinvested regions of the U.S.;
     Creating long-term high paying jobs in existing and new 
industries;
     Facilitating engagement and partnership with local and 
regional communities adjacent to DOE Laboratories and Sites; and
     Training and educating both the current and future 
diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce.
    Innovation ecosystems anchored around DOE National Laboratories and 
Sites will directly support DOE's missions, including advancing new and 
emerging clean energy technologies, combatting the effects of climate 
change, developing technologies to support our nation's security, 
cleaning up of legacy nuclear waste, and developing a technically 
skilled workforce.

Purpose

    DOE is seeking input from all stakeholders about opportunities for 
place-based innovation activities that leverage research institutions--
particularly the National Laboratories and Sites--to catalyze 
innovation ecosystems, contribute to DOE's mission in energy, 
environment, and national security and ensure our nation's vibrant 
economic future. The information received in response to this RFI will 
inform, and be considered by, the DOE in program planning and 
development. This is solely a request for information and not a Funding 
Opportunity Announcement (FOA), prize, or other solicitation.

Request for Responses

    The objective of this RFI is to identify both opportunities and 
challenges for developing place-based innovation ecosystems anchored by 
DOE National Laboratories and Sites. DOE is interested in hearing about 
potential new activities, as well as ongoing activities that would 
benefit from additional support. Information related, but not limited, 
to the following questions is requested:

Part A--Regional Characteristics

     What makes your region competitive or unique for 
innovation?
     What are your region's top three areas of technical 
expertise or attributes that are relevant to DOE's missions?
     What untapped potential exists in your region?
     What are the top three barriers to maximizing/growing your 
region's innovation ecosystem?
     What key areas of investment could be leveraged to realize 
untapped opportunities in your region?

Part B--Place-Based Innovation Activity

B.1: Existing Activities: Describe the Existing Place-Based Innovation 
Activity in Your Region

     How does the activity connect to the immediate region or 
other specific location?
     How does your activity engage with local/regional partners 
(e.g., Federal laboratories, industry, academia, financing/investment, 
community

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organizations, local and tribal governments, etc.)?
     Are there any DOE National Laboratories or Sites currently 
involved? If so, how?
     How does the activity contribute to one or more of the 
aforementioned key elements of an innovation ecosystem?
     How does the activity foster belonging, accessibility, 
justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion?
     What are the challenges for existing innovation activities 
in your region?
     How was this innovation activity initiated/funded?

B.2: Potential Activities: Describe Potential New or Expanded Place-
Based Innovation Activities in Your Region

     How would the new or expanded activity connect to the 
immediate region or other specific location?
     How would your new or expanded activity engage with local/
regional partners (e.g., Federal laboratories, industry, academia, 
funding/investment, community organizations, local and tribal 
governments, etc.)?
     How would the new or expanded activity contribute to one 
or more of the aforementioned key elements of an innovation ecosystem?
     How would the new or expanded activity foster belonging, 
accessibility, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion?
     What are the potential benefits of the new or expanded 
activity for your region?
     What are the potential challenges for new innovation 
activities in your region?
     What level of support would be required to facilitate the 
new or expanded activity?
     What are potential sources of support for this expanded or 
new activity?
    Confidential Business Information. Pursuant to 10 CFR 1004.11, any 
person submitting information that he or she believes to be 
confidential and exempt by law from public disclosure should submit via 
email two well-marked copies: one copy of the document marked 
``confidential'' including all the information believed to be 
confidential, and one copy of the document marked ``non-confidential'' 
with the information believed to be confidential deleted. DOE will make 
its own determination about the confidential status of the information 
and treat it according to its determination.

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on November 
10, 2022, by Dr. Geraldine L. Richmond, Under Secretary for Science and 
Innovation, 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 January 20, 2023.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2023-01440 Filed 1-26-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P