be shared with other practitioners in the scientific 
community; 
(2) efficiencies that can be achieved by using 
shared hardware that can be cost effectively pro-
cured from cloud computing services; 
(3) efficiencies that can be achieved by using 
shared software from an open source repository or 
platform; and 
(4) cost savings that could be achieved by po-
tential sharing of scientific computing resources 
across all Foundation grants. 
SEC. 120. SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGH PRIZES. 
The Director shall place a high priority on designing 
and administering pilot programs for scientific break-
through prizes, in conjunction with private entities, that 
are consistent with Office of Science and Technology Pol-
icy guidelines. Breakthrough prizes shall center around 
technological breakthroughs that are of strategic impor-
tance to the Nation, and have the capacity to spur new 
economic growth. 
SEC. 121. ROTATING PERSONNEL. 
In order to control the costs to the Foundation of 
individuals employed pursuant to the Intergovernmental 
Personnel Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C. 4701 note)—
(1) the Foundation shall provide to Congress a 
written justification and waiver by the Deputy Di-
rector in instances in which such an individual is to 
be paid at a rate that exceeds the maximum rate of 
pay for the Senior Executive Service, including, if 
applicable, adjustment for the certified Senior Exec-
utive Service Performance Appraisal System; 
(2) the Foundation shall provide to Congress a 
written justification and waiver by the Director in 
instances in which such an individual is to be paid 
at a rate that exceeds the annual salary rate of the 
Vice President of the United States; and 
(3) the Foundation shall provide an annual re-
port to Congress on the costs to the Foundation of 
employing such individuals, including— 
(A) the timeliness and completeness of 
Foundation actions in response to recommenda-
tions and findings from the Office of Inspector 
General related to the employment of such indi-
viduals; 
(B) actions taken by the Foundation to re-
duce the cost to the Foundation of the employ-
ment of such individuals at pay levels that ex-
ceed the threshold described in paragraph (1);
(C) the value to the Foundation of employ-
ing individuals pursuant to the Intergovern-
mental Personnel Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C. 4701 
note) whose pay is set below the threshold de-
scribed in paragraph (1); and 
(D) the value to the Foundation of employ-
ing individuals who are not permanent employ-
ees whose pay requires a justification and waiv-
er under paragraph (1) or (2). 
SEC. 122. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING INNOVATION 
CORPS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the Foundation’s Innovation Corps (I- 
Corps) was established to foster a national innova-
tion ecosystem by encouraging institutions, sci-
entists, engineers, and entrepreneurs to identify and 
explore the innovation and commercial potential of 
Foundation-funded research well beyond the labora-
tory; 
(2) the Foundation’s I-Corps includes invest-
ment in entrepreneurship and commercialization 
education, training, and mentoring, ultimately lead-
ing to the practical deployment of technologies, 
products, processes, and services that improve the
Nation’s competitiveness, promote economic growth, 
and benefit society; 
(3) by building networks of entrepreneurs, edu-
cators, mentors, institutions, and collaborations, and 
supporting specialized education and training, I- 
Corps is at the leading edge of a strong, lasting 
foundation for an American innovation ecosystem; 
and 
(4) I-Corps should continue to promote a strong 
innovation system by investing in and supporting fe-
male entrepreneurs, who are historically underrep-
resented 
in 
entrepreneurial 
fields, 
through 
mentorship, education, and training. 
SEC. 123. BRAIN RESEARCH THROUGH ADVANCING INNO-
VATIVE NEUROTECHNOLOGIES INITIATIVE. 
The Foundation shall support research activities re-
lated to the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative 
Neurotechnologies Initiative. The Foundation is encour-
aged to work in conjunction with the Interagency Working 
Group on Neuroscience (IWGN) to determine how to use 
the data infrastructure of the Foundation and other appli-
cable agencies to help neuroscientists collect, standardize, 
manage, and analyze the large amounts of data that will 
result from research attempting to understand how the 
brain functions.
SEC. 124. NOYCE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AMENDMENTS. 
(a) AMENDMENTS.—Section 10A of the National 
Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 
1862n—1a) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(2)(B), by inserting ‘‘or 
bachelor’s’’ after ‘‘master’s’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of para-
graph (2)(B); 
(B) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘for teachers with 
master’s degrees in their field’’ after 
‘‘Teaching Fellowships’’; and 
(ii) by striking the period at the end 
of subparagraph (B) and inserting ‘‘; 
and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(4) in the case of National Science Foundation 
Master Teaching Fellowships for teachers with bach-
elor’s degrees in their field and working toward a 
master’s degree— 
‘‘(A) offering academic courses leading to 
a master’s degree and leadership training to 
prepare individuals to become master teachers 
in elementary and secondary schools; and
‘‘(B) offering programs both during and 
after matriculation in the program for which 
the fellowship is received to enable fellows to 
become 
highly 
effective 
mathematics 
and 
science teachers, including mentoring, training, 
induction, and professional development activi-
ties, to fulfill the service requirements of this 
section, including the requirements of sub-
section (e), and to exchange ideas with others 
in their fields.’’; 
(3) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘subsection 
(g)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (h)’’; 
(4) by redesignating subsections (g) through (i) 
as subsections (h) through (j), respectively; and 
(5) by inserting after subsection (f) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(g) SUPPORT FOR MASTER TEACHING FELLOWS 
WHILE ENROLLED IN A MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAM.— 
A National Science Foundation Master Teacher Fellow 
may receive a maximum of 1 year of fellowship support 
while enrolled in a master’s degree program as described 
in subsection (c)(4)(A), except that if such fellow is en-
rolled in a part-time program, such amount shall be pro-
rated according to the length of the program.’’.