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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. PRECOMPETITIVE INNOVATION INVESTMENT. 
The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.) is amended by adding at 
the end the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 24. PRECOMPETITIVE INNOVATION INVESTMENT. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
‘‘(1) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.— 
The term ‘institution of higher education’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 101(a) of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). 
‘‘(2) 
PRECOMPETITIVE.—The 
term 
‘precompetitive’ means the period after completion 
of basic research but before completion of proof of 
concept. 
‘‘(b) GRANT PROGRAM.—The National Science Foun-
dation shall establish a program of grants to institutions 
of higher education to enable them to bridge the gap be-
tween laboratory discovery and commercially viable re-
search. 
‘‘(c) USE OF GRANT AMOUNTS.—Amounts provided 
in a grant under this section may be used for the estab-
lishment of precompetitive technology transfer centers, 
which can be used to advance inventions made at the insti-
tution of higher education that have market potential to 
the point where they can attract other private or public 
funding, through— 
‘‘(1) enlisting the assistance of commercializa-
tion specialists to assist the institution of higher 
education in areas such as the formation of a small 
business, licensing, or other method of commer-
cialization;
‘‘(2) establishing proof-of-concept; 
‘‘(3) technology feasibility studies; 
‘‘(4) concept analysis; 
‘‘(5) market assessment or study; 
‘‘(6) development and testing of a basic proto-
type; 
‘‘(7) patenting and licensing expenses; or 
‘‘(8) development of a business plan. 
‘‘(d) APPLICATION REQUIREMENT.—An applicant for 
a grant under this section shall establish to the satisfac-
tion of the National Science Foundation its ability to carry 
out the activities described in subsection (c) for which the 
grant will be used. 
‘‘(e) SELECTION
PREFERENCES.—The National 
Science Foundation shall give preference in the selection 
of grantees under this section to— 
‘‘(1) institutions of higher education that work 
with outside agencies such as State and local govern-
ment, businesses, and economic development organi-
zations; 
‘‘(2) institutions of higher education that match 
Federal funds used in grants made under the pro-
gram; and 
‘‘(3) institutions of higher education that work 
with other institutions of higher education, including
institutions too small to have their own technology 
licensing office. 
‘‘(f) EQUAL ACCESS
TO GRANTS.—The National 
Science Foundation shall strive to ensure equal access to 
grants under this section for Historically Black Colleges 
and Universities, and Minority Serving Institutions. 
‘‘(g) LIMIT ON NUMBER OF GRANTS.—No institution 
of higher education shall receive a grant under this section 
for more than 4 years. 
‘‘(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the National Science 
Foundation for carrying out this section— 
‘‘(1) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2006; and 
‘‘(2) such sums as may be necessary for fiscal 
years 2007 through 2010.’’. 
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