### §278l. Assistance to State technology programs

(a) In addition to the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership under section 278k of this title, the Secretary, through the Director and, if appropriate, through other officials, shall provide technical assistance to State technology programs throughout the United States, in order to help those programs help businesses, particularly small- and medium-sized businesses, to enhance their competitiveness through the application of science and technology.

(b) Such assistance from the Institute to State technology programs shall include, but not be limited to—

(1) technical information and advice from Institute personnel;

(2) workshops and seminars for State officials interested in transferring Federal technology to businesses; and

(3) entering into cooperative agreements when authorized to do so under this chapter or any other Act.

(Mar. 3, 1901, ch. 872, §26, as added Pub. L. 100–418, title V, §5121(a), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1435; amended Pub. L. 114–329, title V, §501(e)(3), Jan. 6, 2017, 130 Stat. 3033.)

#### **Editorial Notes**

#### Amendments

2017—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 114–329 substituted "Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership" for "Centers program created".

#### **Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries**

#### Technology Extension Services

Pub. L. 100–418, title V, §5121(b), (c), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1436, 1437, as amended by Pub. L. 102–245, title I, §105(d), Feb. 14, 1992, 106 Stat. 12, provided that:

"(b) Technology Extension Services.—(1) The Secretary shall conduct a nationwide study of current State technology extension services. The study shall include—

"(A) a thorough description of each State program, including its duration, its annual budget, and the number and types of businesses it has aided;

"(B) a description of any anticipated expansion of each State program and its associated costs;

"(C) an evaluation of the success of the services in transferring technology, modernizing manufacturing processes, and improving the productivity and profitability of businesses;

"(D) an assessment of the degree to which State services make use of Federal programs, including the Small Business Innovative Research program and the programs of the Federal Laboratory Consortium, the National Technical Information Service, the National Science Foundation, the Office of Productivity, Technology, and Innovation, and the Small Business Administration;

"(E) a survey of what additional Federal information and technical assistance the services could utilize; and

"(F) an assessment of how the services could be more effective agents for the transfer of Federal scientific and technical information, including the results and application of Federal and federally funded research.

The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, at the time of submission of the organization plan for the Institute under section 5112(d)(1) [of Pub. L. 100–418, set out as a note under section 272 of this title], the results of the study and an initial implementation plan for the programs under section 26 of the Act of March 3, 1901 [15 U.S.C. 278l], and under this section [enacting sections 278k to 278m of this title]. The implementation plan shall include methods of providing technical assistance to States and criteria for awarding financial assistance under this section. The Secretary may make use of contractors and experts for any or all of the studies and findings called for in this section.

"(2)(A) The Institute shall enter into cooperative agreements with State technology extension services to—

"(i) demonstrate methods by which the States can, in cooperation with Federal agencies, increase the use of Federal technology by businesses within their States to improve industrial competitiveness; or

"(ii) help businesses in their States take advantage of the services and information offered by the Regional Centers for the Transfer of Manufacturing Technology created under [former] section 25 of the Act of March 3, 1901 [former 15 U.S.C. 278k].

"(B) Any State, for itself or for a consortium of States, may submit to the Secretary an application for a cooperative agreement under this subsection, in accordance with procedures established by the Secretary. To qualify for a cooperative agreement under this subsection, a State shall provide adequate assurances that it will increase its spending on technology extension services by an amount at least equal to the amount of Federal assistance.

"(C) In evaluating each application, the Secretary shall consider—

"(i) the number and types of additional businesses that will be assisted under the cooperative agreement;

"(ii) the extent to which the State extension service will demonstrate new methods to increase the use of Federal technology;

"(iii) geographic diversity; and

"(iv) the ability of the State to maintain the extension service after the cooperative agreement has expired.

"(D) States which are party to cooperative agreements under this subsection may provide services directly or may arrange for the provision of any or all of such services by institutions of higher education or other non-profit institutions or organizations.

"(3) In carrying out section 26 of the Act of March 3, 1901 [15 U.S.C. 278l], and this subsection, the Secretary shall coordinate the activities with the Federal Laboratory Consortium; the National Technical Information Service; the National Science Foundation; the Office of Productivity, Technology, and Innovation; the Small Business Administration; and other appropriate Federal agencies.

"(4) There are authorized to be appropriated for the purposes of this subsection $2,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1989, 1990, and 1991.

"(c) Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986.—Nothing in sections [sic] 25 or 26 of the Act of March 3, 1901 [15 U.S.C. 278k, 278l], or in subsection (b) of this section shall be construed as limiting the authorities contained in the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986 (Public Law 99–502) [see Short Title of 1986 Amendments note set out under section 3701 of this title]."