SEC. 208. STATE TECHNOLOGY EXTENSION PROGRAM.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Section 26(a) of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C.
278l(a)), is amended—
(1) by inserting immediately after ‘‘(a)’’ the fol-
lowing new sentence: ‘‘There is established within
the Institute a State Technology Extension Pro-
gram.’’; and
(2) by inserting ‘‘through that Program’’ imme-
diately after ‘‘technical assistance’’.
(b) ADDITIONAL AUTHORITIES.—Section 26 of the
National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15
U.S.C. 278l) is amended by adding at the end the follow-
ing new subsection:
‘‘(c) In addition to the general authorities listed in
subsection (b) of this section, the State Technology Exten-
sion Program also may, through merit-based competitive
review processes—
‘‘(1) make awards to States and conduct work-
shops, pursuant to section 5121(b) of the Omnibus
Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988, in order to
help States improve their planning and coordination
of technology extension activities;
‘‘(2) support technology demonstration projects
to help States provide technical assistance and serv-
ices to small- and medium-sized manufacturers that
will improve their productivity and competitiveness;
‘‘(3) support State efforts to develop and test
innovative ways to help small and medium-sized
manufacturers improve their technical capabilities;
‘‘(4) support State efforts designed to help
small and medium-sized manufacturers in rural as
well as urban areas adopt modern manufacturing
technologies;
‘‘(5) support State efforts to assist interested
defense manufacturing firms to adapt to modern or
advanced manufacturing technologies as they con-
vert to nondefense or dual-use purposes;
‘‘(6) support worker technology education pro-
grams in the States at institutions such as research
universities, community colleges, labor education
centers, labor-management committees, and worker
organizations in production technologies critical to
the Nation’s future, with an emphasis on high-per-
formance work systems, the skills necessary to use
modern or advanced manufacturing systems well;
and
‘‘(7) help States develop programs to train per-
sonnel who in turn can provide technical skills to
managers and workers of United States manufactur-
ers.’’.
Subtitle B—National Science Foun-
dation Manufacturing Programs
SEC. 211. ROLE OF THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
IN MANUFACTURING.
The Director of the National Science Foundation,
after appropriate consultation with the Secretary, the
Under Secretary, and the Director, shall—
(1) work with United States industry to identify
areas of research in advanced manufacturing tech-
nologies and practices that offer the potential to im-
prove United States productivity, competitiveness,
employment, and sustainable economic growth;
(2) support research at United States univer-
sities to improve advanced manufacturing tech-
nologies and practices; and
(3) work with the Technology Administration
and the Institute and, as appropriate, other Federal
agencies to accelerate the transfer to United States
industry of manufacturing research and innovations
developed at universities.
SEC. 212. ENGINEERING AND COOPERATIVE RESEARCH
CENTERS.
The Director of the National Science Foundation
shall strengthen and expand the number of Engineering
Research Centers and strengthen and expand the Indus-
try/University Cooperative Research Centers Program
with the goal of increasing the engineering talent base
versed in technologies critical to the Nation’s future, with
emphasis on advanced manufacturing technology and
practices, and of advancing fundamental engineering
knowledge in these technologies, including biotechnology.
At least one Engineering Research Center shall have a re-
search and education focus on the concerns of United
States manufacturers, including small- and medium-sized
firms that are trying to modernize their operations.
Awards under this section shall be made on a competitive,
merit review basis and on terms and conditions the Direc-
tor may prescribe to ensure that the purposes for which
the award is made are satisfied. Such awards may include
support for acquisition of instrumentation, equipment,
and facilities related to the research and education activi-
ties of the Centers and support for undergraduate stu-
dents to participate in the activities of the Centers.
SEC. 213. MANUFACTURING TRAINEESHIPS AND FELLOW-
SHIPS.
(a) GRADUATE TRAINEESHIPS.—The Director of the
National Science Foundation, in consultation with the
Secretary, may establish a program to provide traineeships
to graduate students at institutions of higher education
within the United States who choose to pursue masters
or doctoral degrees in manufacturing engineering.
(b) MANUFACTURING MANAGERS
IN
THE CLASS-
ROOM PROGRAM.—The Director of the National Science
Foundation, in consultation with the Secretary, may es-
tablish a program to provide fellowships, on a cost-shared
basis, to individuals from industry with experience in man-
ufacturing to serve for 1 or 2 years as instructors in man-
ufacturing at 2-year community and technical colleges in
the United States. In selecting fellows, the Director of the
National Science Foundation shall place special emphasis
on supporting individuals who not only have expertise and
practicable experience in manufacturing but who also will
work to foster cooperation between 2-year colleges and
nearby manufacturing firms.
SEC. 214. TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT.
The Director of the National Science Foundation, in
consultation with the Secretary, the Under Secretary, and
the Director, may establish a program to develop innova-
tive curricula, courses, and materials for use by institu-
tions of higher education for instruction in total quality
management and related management practices, in order
to help improve the productivity of United States industry.
TITLE III—CRITICAL
TECHNOLOGIES
Subtitle A—Benchmarking Science
and Technology
SEC. 301. BENCHMARKING UNITED STATES SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY AGAINST FOREIGN CAPABILI-
TIES.
The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of
1980, as amended by this Act, is further amended by add-
ing at the end the following new title:
‘‘TITLE IV—BENCHMARKING
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
‘‘SEC. 401. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
‘‘(a) FINDINGS.—As other countries have gained
strength in new technologies and as centers of technical
excellence have developed around the world, it has become
increasingly important to assess United States scientific
and technological capabilities relative to those of other
global competitors and to make this information available
to United States researchers and policymakers in govern-
ment and industry.
‘‘(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this title are to
conduct and coordinate the collection, evaluation, and dis-
semination of information on foreign science and tech-
nology, specifically information assessing foreign capabili-
ties relative to comparable United States capabilities.
‘‘SEC. 402. PROGRAM RESPONSIBILITIES.
‘‘(a) DEPARTMENT
OF COMMERCE.—The Depart-
ment of Commerce shall be the lead agency of the Federal
Government in making available information for assessing
the comparative strength of United States scientific and
technological capabilities. The Secretary, acting through
the Under Secretary, shall—
‘‘(1) act as a focal point within the Federal
Government for collection and dissemination to
United States industry of foreign process and prod-
uct research and technologies of importance to Unit-
ed States Government and industry, and of related
technology assessment activities already underway in
the Federal Government;
‘‘(2) provide leadership in making sure the in-
formation and analyses are easily accessible in elec-
tronic form, and ensure, consistent with confidential-
ity and security considerations, that they will be
readily available through the clearinghouse to the
‘‘(1) arrange for access to benchmarking infor-
mation, in electronic form or otherwise, by interested
parties;
‘‘(2) direct and fund the collection of additional
information needed for benchmarking;
‘‘(3) direct and fund analysis of foreign re-
search and development activities and technological
capabilities, particularly in those areas where the
United States is considered to be at par or lagging
foreign capabilities or where foreign capabilities are
projected to overtake those of the United States;
‘‘(4) enter into joint ventures authorized under
section 212(a)(1)(A) of Public Law 100–519 (15
U.S.C. 3704b(a)(1)(a)) in carrying out this title;
‘‘(5) establish collaborative programs to actively
disseminate benchmarking information to policy, in-
dustrial, labor, educational, research, and other or-
ganizations, and provide a minority share of funding
necessary for such programs;
‘‘(6) consult with private sector groups, as ap-
propriate, on the usefulness of available foreign sci-
entific and technological information and on the
need for additional information and assessment ac-
tivities and consult with other affected agencies to
promote consistent and useful collection, assessment,
and analysis of foreign technological information;
and
‘‘(7) establish and administer the fellowship
program described in subsection (d).
‘‘(d) FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.—(1) The Office of
Technology Monitoring and Assessment shall establish
and administer a fellowship program to support Tech-
nology Fellows to assist the Under Secretary in carrying
out activities under this title relating to those countries
that are major competitors of the United States in critical
technologies, and to identify opportunities for technology
transfer to the United States or technological collabora-
tion for United States industries.
‘‘(2) Technology Fellows shall—
‘‘(A) regularly report to the Office of Tech-
nology Monitoring and Assessment on work planned,
in progress, and accomplished; and
‘‘(B) provide support to the Office of Tech-
nology Monitoring and Assessment as requested by
that Office.
‘‘(3) Fellowships awarded under the program estab-
lished under this subsection shall—
‘‘(A) be awarded for a period of 2 years;
‘‘(B) include a stipend equivalent to comparable
wages in the engineering industry; and
‘‘(C) include provisions for living and office ar-
rangements in the host country.
‘‘(4) Only individuals who—
‘‘(A) have at least a bachelors degree in engi-
neering or science; and
‘‘(B) have at least 5 years of work experience
in manufacturing or technology development,
shall be eligible for a fellowship under this program.’’.
Subtitle B—Advanced Technology
Program
SEC. 321. DEVELOPMENT OF PROGRAM PLAN.
The Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary
and the Director, shall, within 6 months after the date
of enactment of this Act, submit to the Congress a plan
for the expansion of the Advanced Technology Program
established under section 28 of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278n), with
specific consideration given to—
(1) closer coordination and cooperation with the
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and
other Federal research and development agencies as
appropriate;
(2) establishment of staff positions that can be
filled by private sector industrial or technical experts
for a period of one to two years;
(3) broadening of the scope of the program to
include and focus on as many critical technologies
identified pursuant to section 603(d) of the National
Science and Technology Policy, Organization, and
Priorities Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C. 6683(d)) as is ap-
propriate; and
(4) changes that may be needed when annual
funds available for grants under the Program reach
levels of $200,000,000 and $500,000,000.
SEC. 322. LARGE SCALE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
CONSORTIA.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.—The Secretary,
acting through the Director, shall establish a program for
the support of large-scale research and development con-
sortia.
(b) 
SELECTION
PROCEDURES
AND
REQUIRE-
MENTS.—
(1) GENERAL
RULE.—Except as provided in
paragraph (2), the selection and making of awards
to large-scale research and development consortia
under this section shall be carried out in accordance
with procedures and requirements applicable to joint
ventures described in section 28(b)(1) of the Na-
tional Institute of Standards and Technology Act
(15 U.S.C. 278n(b)(1)).
(2) 
EXCEPTION.—Notwithstanding 
section
28(b)(1)(B)(ii) of the National Institute of Stand-
ards 
and 
Technology 
Act 
(15 
U.S.C.
278n(b)(1)(B)(ii)), for purposes of awards made
under this section, a minority share of the cost of
large-scale research and development consortia may
be provided by the Federal Government for up to 7
years.
(c) PROJECT SELECTION.—Preference shall be given
for selection under this section to large-scale research and
development consortia that would not be undertaken by
the private sector without a Federal investment of
$50,000,000 or more per year.
(d) SELECTION CRITERIA.—In selecting large-scale
research and development consortia under this section, the
Secretary, acting through the Director, shall give priority
to consortia that best achieve the following goals:
(1) Significant contribution to broad economic
growth.
(2) Significant contribution to the national
quality of life.
(3) Significant contribution to environmental
sustainability.
(4) Promotion of private sector partnership
with Federal research and development activities.
(5) Substantial improvement of the inter-
national competitiveness of United States industry.
(6) Involvement of several competitor firms in
the development of the key consortia technologies.
(7) Strengthening of the linkages between do-
mestic suppliers, systems developers, and end-users.
(8) Participation by domestic end-users from
several industrial sectors.
(9) 
Promotion 
of 
the 
diffusion 
of
nonproprietary information to United States indus-
try through strong links with organizations such as
trade and professional groups.
(e) INDEPENDENT TECHNICAL REVIEW.—The Sec-
retary, through the Director, shall provide for periodic
technical review of large-scale research and development
consortia receiving support under this section, by the Na-
tional Institute of Standards and Technology, other na-
tional laboratories, the Department of Commerce Tech-
nology Advisory Board established under section 401 of
this Act, or independent research organizations that are
not a participant in the large-scale research and develop-
ment consortium being reviewed. Such review shall be for
the purpose of determining progress toward the objectives
for which such large-scale research and development con-
sortium was formed. The Secretary, through the Director,