I 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3331 

To provide funding to enable institutions of higher education to establish 

a grant program to bridge the gap between laboratory discovery and 

commercially viable research. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 19, 2005 

Mr. MILLER of North Carolina (for himself and Mr. BISHOP of New York) 

introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science 

A BILL 

To provide funding to enable institutions of higher education 

to establish a grant program to bridge the gap between 

laboratory discovery and commercially viable research. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. PRECOMPETITIVE INNOVATION INVESTMENT. 

4 The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 

5 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.) is amended by adding at 

6 the end the following new section: 

7 ‘‘SEC. 24. PRECOMPETITIVE INNOVATION INVESTMENT. 

8 ‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
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1 ‘‘(1) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.— 

2 The term ‘institution of higher education’ has the 

3 meaning given that term in section 101(a) of the 

4 Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). 

5 ‘‘(2) PRECOMPETITIVE.—The term 

6 ‘precompetitive’ means the period after completion 

7 of basic research but before completion of proof of 

8 concept. 

9 ‘‘(b) GRANT PROGRAM.—The National Science Foun10 dation shall establish a program of grants to institutions 

11 of higher education to enable them to bridge the gap be12 tween laboratory discovery and commercially viable re13 search. 

14 ‘‘(c) USE OF GRANT AMOUNTS.—Amounts provided 

15 in a grant under this section may be used for the estab16 lishment of precompetitive technology transfer centers, 

17 which can be used to advance inventions made at the insti18 tution of higher education that have market potential to 

19 the point where they can attract other private or public 

20 funding, through— 

21 ‘‘(1) enlisting the assistance of commercializa22 tion specialists to assist the institution of higher 

23 education in areas such as the formation of a small 

24 business, licensing, or other method of commer25 cialization; 
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1 ‘‘(2) establishing proof-of-concept; 

2 ‘‘(3) technology feasibility studies; 

3 ‘‘(4) concept analysis; 

4 ‘‘(5) market assessment or study; 

5 ‘‘(6) development and testing of a basic proto6 type; 

7 ‘‘(7) patenting and licensing expenses; or 

8 ‘‘(8) development of a business plan. 

9 ‘‘(d) APPLICATION REQUIREMENT.—An applicant for 

10 a grant under this section shall establish to the satisfac11 tion of the National Science Foundation its ability to carry 

12 out the activities described in subsection (c) for which the 

13 grant will be used. 

14 ‘‘(e) SELECTION PREFERENCES.—The National 

15 Science Foundation shall give preference in the selection 

16 of grantees under this section to— 

17 ‘‘(1) institutions of higher education that work 

18 with outside agencies such as State and local govern19 ment, businesses, and economic development organi20 zations; 

21 ‘‘(2) institutions of higher education that match 

22 Federal funds used in grants made under the pro23 gram; and 

24 ‘‘(3) institutions of higher education that work 

25 with other institutions of higher education, including 
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1 institutions too small to have their own technology 

2 licensing office. 

3 ‘‘(f) EQUAL ACCESS TO GRANTS.—The National 

4 Science Foundation shall strive to ensure equal access to 

5 grants under this section for Historically Black Colleges 

6 and Universities, and Minority Serving Institutions. 

7 ‘‘(g) LIMIT ON NUMBER OF GRANTS.—No institution 

8 of higher education shall receive a grant under this section 

9 for more than 4 years. 

10 ‘‘(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

11 are authorized to be appropriated to the National Science 

12 Foundation for carrying out this section— 

13 ‘‘(1) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2006; and 

14 ‘‘(2) such sums as may be necessary for fiscal 

15 years 2007 through 2010.’’. 

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