I 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4998 

To establish and to expand partnerships that promote innovation and increase 

the economic and social impact of research by developing tools and 

resources to connect new scientific discoveries to practical uses. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 13, 2010 

Mr. HILL introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on Science and Technology 

A BILL 

To establish and to expand partnerships that promote innovation and increase the economic and social impact of 

research by developing tools and resources to connect 

new scientific discoveries to practical uses. 

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

3 SECTION 1. PARTNERSHIPS FOR INNOVATION. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National 

5 Science Foundation shall carry out a program to award 

6 merit-reviewed, competitive grants to institutions of higher 

7 education to establish and to expand partnerships that 

8 promote innovation and increase the economic and social 


pwalker on DSK8KYBLC1PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 4998 IH

1 impact of research by developing tools and resources to 

2 connect new scientific discoveries to practical uses. 

3 (b) PARTNERSHIPS.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible for funding 

5 under this section, an institution of higher education 

6 must propose establishment of a partnership that— 

7 (A) includes at least one private sector en8 tity; and 

9 (B) may include other institutions of high10 er education, public sector institutions, and pri11 vate sector entities. 

12 (2) PRIORITY.—In selecting grant recipients 

13 under this section, the Director shall give priority to 

14 partnerships that include one or more institutions of 

15 higher education that are among the 100 institu16 tions receiving, over the 3-year period immediately 

17 preceding the awarding of grants, the highest 

18 amount of research funding from the National 

19 Science Foundation and at least one of the fol20 lowing: 

21 (A) A minority serving institution. 

22 (B) A primarily undergraduate institution. 

23 (C) A 2-year college. 

24 (c) PROGRAM.—Proposals funded under this section 

25 shall seek to— 


pwalker on DSK8KYBLC1PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 4998 IH

1 (1) increase the economic or social impact of 

2 the most promising research at the institution or in3 stitutions of higher education that are members of 

4 the partnership through knowledge transfer or com5 mercialization; 

6 (2) increase the engagement of faculty and stu7 dents across multiple disciplines and departments, 

8 including faculty and students in schools of business 

9 and other appropriate non-STEM fields and dis10 ciplines in knowledge transfer activities; 

11 (3) enhance education and mentoring of stu12 dents and faculty in innovation and entrepreneur13 ship through networks, courses, and development of 

14 best practices and curricula; 

15 (4) strengthen the culture of the institution or 

16 institutions of higher education to undertake and 

17 participate in activities related to innovation and 

18 leading to economic or social impact; 

19 (5) broaden the participation of all types of in20 stitutions of higher education in activities to meet 

21 STEM workforce needs and promote innovation and 

22 technology transfer; and 

23 (6) build lasting partnerships with local and re24 gional businesses, local and State governments, and 

25 other relevant entities. 


pwalker on DSK8KYBLC1PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 4998 IH

1 (d) ADDITIONAL CRITERIA.—In selecting grant re2 cipients under this section, the Director shall also consider 

3 the extent to which the applicants are able to demonstrate 

4 evidence of institutional support for, and commitment 

5 to— 

6 (1) achieving the goals of the program as de7 scribed in subsection (c); 

8 (2) expansion to a university-wide program if 

9 the initial proposal is not for a university-wide pro10 gram; and 

11 (3) sustaining any new innovation tools and re12 sources generated from funding under this program. 

13 (e) LIMITATION.—No funds provided under this sec14 tion may be used to construct or renovate a building or 

15 structure. 

Æ 


pwalker on DSK8KYBLC1PROD with BILLS