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 inno-
vation and increase the economic and social impact of 
research by developing tools and resources to connect 
new scientific discoveries to practical uses. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. PARTNERSHIPS FOR INNOVATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National 
Science Foundation shall carry out a program to award 
merit-reviewed, competitive grants to institutions of higher 
education to establish and to expand partnerships that 
promote innovation and increase the economic and social 
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impact of research by developing tools and resources to 
connect new scientific discoveries to practical uses. 
(b) PARTNERSHIPS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible for funding 
under this section, an institution of higher education 
must propose establishment of a partnership that— 
(A) includes at least one private sector en-
tity; and 
(B) may include other institutions of high-
er education, public sector institutions, and pri-
vate sector entities. 
(2) PRIORITY.—In selecting grant recipients 
under this section, the Director shall give priority to 
partnerships that include one or more institutions of 
higher education that are among the 100 institu-
tions receiving, over the 3-year period immediately 
preceding the awarding of grants, the highest 
amount of research funding from the National 
Science Foundation and at least one of the fol-
lowing: 
(A) A minority serving institution. 
(B) A primarily undergraduate institution. 
(C) A 2-year college. 
(c) PROGRAM.—Proposals funded under this section 
shall seek to— 
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(1) increase the economic or social impact of 
the most promising research at the institution or in-
stitutions of higher education that are members of 
the partnership through knowledge transfer or com-
mercialization; 
(2) increase the engagement of faculty and stu-
dents across multiple disciplines and departments, 
including faculty and students in schools of business 
and other appropriate non-STEM fields and dis-
ciplines in knowledge transfer activities; 
(3) enhance education and mentoring of stu-
dents and faculty in innovation and entrepreneur-
ship through networks, courses, and development of 
best practices and curricula; 
(4) strengthen the culture of the institution or 
institutions of higher education to undertake and 
participate in activities related to innovation and 
leading to economic or social impact; 
(5) broaden the participation of all types of in-
stitutions of higher education in activities to meet 
STEM workforce needs and promote innovation and 
technology transfer; and 
(6) build lasting partnerships with local and re-
gional businesses, local and State governments, and 
other relevant entities. 
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(d) ADDITIONAL CRITERIA.—In selecting grant re-
cipients under this section, the Director shall also consider 
the extent to which the applicants are able to demonstrate 
evidence of institutional support for, and commitment 
to— 
(1) achieving the goals of the program as de-
scribed in subsection (c); 
(2) expansion to a university-wide program if 
the initial proposal is not for a university-wide pro-
gram; and 
(3) sustaining any new innovation tools and re-
sources generated from funding under this program. 
(e) LIMITATION.—No funds provided under this sec-
tion may be used to construct or renovate a building or 
structure. 
Æ 
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