To authorize the National Science Foundation and the research, development, demonstration, and commercial application programs of the Department of Energy to provide grants to early career researchers to conduct high-risk, high-return research in areas relevant to industry.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Research for Competitiveness Act''.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION INDUSTRIALLY-RELEVANT RESEARCH 
              AWARDS.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the National Science Foundation 
shall carry out a program to award competitive grants to scientists and 
engineers at the early stage of their careers at institutions of higher 
education and research institutions to conduct high-risk, high-return 
research in areas relevant to industry.
    (b) Size and Duration of Award.--The duration of awards under this 
section shall be 5 years, and the amount per year shall be $50,000. 
Additionally, if an award recipient receives funding from United States 
industry for work in the area described in the recipient's application 
for the award, then up to an additional $50,000 may be provided each 
year as a one-to-one match to such industry funding.
    (c) Eligibility.--Award recipients shall be individuals who are 
employed in a tenure-track position as an assistant professor or 
equivalent title, or who hold an equivalent position, at--
            (1) an institution of higher education in the United 
        States; or
            (2) an organization in the United States that is a 
        nonprofit, nondegree-granting research organization such as a 
        museum, observatory, or research laboratory.
    (d) Application and Selection Process.--
            (1) Initial application.--Applicants for awards under this 
        section shall submit to the Director--
                    (A) a curriculum vitae or resume, including a list 
                of publications and a description of any activities 
                demonstrating leadership or educational activities;
                    (B) a description of research areas of interest;
                    (C) letters of recommendation; and
                    (D) any other materials the Director requires.
            (2) Further consideration and selection.--The Director 
        shall convene review panels to make recommendations, based on 
        application materials received under paragraph (1), of which 
        candidates are qualified to be finalists for the award. Based 
        on these recommendations, the Director shall select finalists, 
        who shall then be interviewed by panels of experts who shall 
        make recommendations to the Director on the recipients of the 
        awards. The Director shall make awards based on these 
        recommendations.
    (e) Composition of Review Panels.--The panels reviewing 
applications and interviewing finalists as described in subsection (d) 
shall include representatives from a range of industries.
    (f) Criteria for Awards.--In establishing criteria for evaluation 
of applications for grants under this section, the Director shall 
include--
            (1) the potential of the applicant for leadership at the 
        frontiers of knowledge;
            (2) the potential innovative or transformative nature of 
        research in the areas of interest described in the application;
            (3) the creativity demonstrated in the applicant's past 
        research activities; and
            (4) the potential relevance to industry of research in the 
        areas of interest described in the application.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Director of the National Science Foundation to 
carry out this section--
            (1) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
            (2) $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
            (3) $9,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
            (4) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
            (5) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.

SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY INDUSTRIALLY-RELEVANT RESEARCH AWARDS.

    (a) In General.--The Under Secretary for Science of the Department 
of Energy shall carry out a program to award competitive grants to 
scientists and engineers at the early stage of their careers at 
institutions of higher education and research institutions to conduct 
high-risk, high-return research in areas relevant to energy production, 
storage, and use.
    (b) Participation of Department of Energy Organizations.--The 
research, development, demonstration, and commercial application 
programs of the Office of Science, the Office of Nuclear Energy 
Research and Development, the Office of Fossil Energy, and the Office 
of Energy Efficiency and Renewables may participate in the program 
established under subsection (a).
    (c) Size and Duration of Award.--The duration of awards under this 
section shall be up to 5 years, and the amount per year shall be 
$50,000. Additionally, if an award recipient receives funding from 
United States industry for work in the area described in the 
recipient's application for the award, then up to an additional $50,000 
may be provided each year as a one-to-one match to such industry 
funding.
    (d) Eligibility.--Award recipients shall be individuals who are 
employed in a tenure-track position as an assistant professor or 
equivalent title, or who hold an equivalent position, at--
            (1) an institution of higher education in the United 
        States; or
            (2) an organization in the United States that is a 
        nonprofit, nondegree-granting research organization such as a 
        museum, observatory, or research laboratory.
    (e) Application and Selection Process.--
            (1) Initial application.--Applicants for awards under this 
        section shall submit to the Under Secretary--
                    (A) a curriculum vitae or resume, including a list 
                of publications and a description of any activities 
                demonstrating leadership or educational activities;
                    (B) a description of research areas of interest;
                    (C) letters of recommendation; and
                    (D) any other materials the Under Secretary 
                requires.
            (2) Further consideration and selection.--The Under 
        Secretary shall convene review panels to make recommendations, 
        based on application materials received under paragraph (1), of 
        which candidates are qualified to be finalists for the award. 
        Based on these recommendations, the Under Secretary shall 
        select finalists, who shall then be interviewed by panels of 
        experts who shall make recommendations to the Under Secretary 
        on the recipients of the awards. The Under Secretary shall make 
        awards based on these recommendations.
    (f) Composition of Review Panels.--The panels reviewing 
applications and interviewing finalists as described in subsection (e) 
shall include representatives from a range of industries.
    (g) Criteria for Awards.--In establishing criteria for evaluation 
of applications for the grants awarded under section (a), the Under 
Secretary shall include--
            (1) the potential for leadership at the frontiers of 
        knowledge by the applicant;
            (2) the potential innovative or transformative nature of 
        research in the areas of interest described in the application;
            (3) the creativity demonstrated in the applicant's past 
        research activities; and
            (4) the potential relevance to industry of research in the 
        areas of interest described in the application.
    (h) Collaboration With National Laboratories.--In awarding grants 
under this section, the Under Secretary may give priority to 
applications in which the proposed work includes collaboration with the 
Department of Energy National Laboratories.
    (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Energy to carry out this section--
            (1) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
            (2) $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
            (3) $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
            (4) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
            (5) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.

SEC. 4. DEFINITION.

    In this Act, the term ``institution of higher education'' has the 
meaning given such term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).

Summary: Research for Competitiveness Act - Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation to carry out a program of awarding competitive grants to scientists and engineers at the early stage of their careers at institutions of higher education and research institutions to conduct, high-risk, high-return research in areas relevant to industry. Directs the Under Secretary for Science of the Department of Energy to carry out a program of awarding competitive grants to scientists and engineers at the early stage of their careers at institutions of higher education and research institutions to conduct high-risk, high-return research in areas relevant to energy production, storage, and use.