[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 52 (Monday, January 1, 2001)]
[Pages 3211-3212]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Executive Order 13185--To Strengthen the Federal Government-University 
Research Partnership

December 28, 2000

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and 
the laws of the United States of America, and in order to keep the 
Federal Government-University research partnership strong, it is hereby 
ordered as follows:
    Section 1. Principles of the Government-University Partnership. The 
partnership in science and technology that has evolved between the 
Federal Government and American universities has yielded benefits that 
are vital to each. It continues to prove exceptionally productive, 
successfully promoting the discovery of knowledge, stimulating 
technological innovation, improving the quality of life, educating and 
training the next generation of scientists and engineers, and 
contributing to America's economic prosperity and national security. In 
order to reaffirm and strengthen this partnership, this order sets forth 
the following guiding and operating principles that are fully described 
in the April 1999 National Science and Technology Council report, 
``Renewing the Government-University Partnership.'' These principles 
shall provide the framework for the development and analysis of all 
future Federal policies, rules, and regulations for the Federal 
Government-University research partnership.
    (a) The guiding principles that shall govern interactions between 
the Federal Government and universities that perform research are:
 (1)         Research is an investment in the future;
 (2)         The integration of research and education is vital;
 (3)         Excellence is promoted when investments are guided by merit 
            review; and
 (4)         Research must be conducted with integrity.
    (b) The operating principles that shall assist agencies, 
universities, individual researchers, and auditing and regulatory bodies 
in implementing the guiding principles are:
 (1)         Agency cost-sharing policies and practices must be 
            transparent;
 (2)         Partners should respect the merit review process;
 (3)         Agencies and universities should manage research in a cost-
            efficient manner;
 (4)         Accountability and accounting are not the same;
 (5)         The benefits of simplicity in policies and practices should 
            be weighed against the costs;
 (6)         Change should be justified by need and the process made 
            transparent.
    (c) Each executive branch department or agency that supports 
research at universities shall regularly review its existing policies 
and procedures to ensure that they meet the spirit and intent of the 
guiding and operating principles stated above.
    Sec. 2. Office of Science and Technology (OSTP) Review of the 
Government-University Research Partnership. (a) The OSTP, in conjunction 
with the National Science and Technology Council, shall conduct a 
regular review of the Government-University research partnership and 
prepare a report on the status of the partnership. The OSTP should 
receive input from all departments or agencies that have a major impact 
on the Government-University partnership through their support of 
research and education, policy making, regulatory activities, and 
research administration. In addition, OSTP may seek the input of the 
National Science Board and the President's Committee of Advisors for 
Science and Technology, as well as other stakeholders, such as State and 
local governments, industry, the National Academy of

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Sciences, and the Federal Demonstration Partnership.
    (b) The purpose of the review and the report is to determine the 
overall health of the Government-University research partnership, being 
mindful of the guiding and operating principles stated above. The report 
should include recommendations on how to improve the Government-
University partnership.
    (c) The Director of OSTP shall deliver the report to the President.
    Sec. 3. Judicial Review. This order does not create any enforceable 
rights against the United States, its agencies, its officers, or any 
person.
                                            William J. Clinton
 The White House,
 December 28, 2000.

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 12:32 p.m., January 2, 
2001]

 Note:  This Executive order was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on December 29, and it will be published in the  Federal 
Register  on January 3.