H. R. 4346—216 
(2) the societal, national, and geostrategic challenges and 
rationale for their selection; 
(3) the role of the Foundation in advancing the key tech-
nology focus areas; 
(4) the impact, including to the academic research commu-
nity, of any changes to the key technology focus areas; and 
(5) the activities and partnerships between the Directorate 
and the private sector. 
(g) DETAILED DESCRIPTION.—The National Science Foundation 
shall, in coordination with the Office of Management and Budget, 
submit as part of their annual budget requests to Congress, a 
detailed description of the activities to be funded under this subtitle, 
including an explanation of how the requested funding is com-
plementary and not redundant of programs, efforts, and infrastruc-
ture undertaken or supported by other relevant Federal agencies. 
(h) NATIONAL ACADEMIES.—Not later than 5 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall contract with 
the National Academies to conduct a review of the key technology 
focus areas and the societal, national, and geostrategic challenges, 
including— 
(1) an assessment of their selection process; 
(2) an assessment of their relevance to the purposes of 
the Directorate, including to solving challenges with social, 
economic, health, scientific, and national security implications; 
(3) a review of whether Federal investment in the key 
technology focus areas have resulted in new domestic manufac-
turing capacity and job creation; 
(4) an assessment of any critical, new emerging areas; 
(5) an assessment of Federal investments in education and 
workforce development to support the key technology focus 
areas; and 
(6) an assessment of relative balance in leadership in 
addressing the key technology focus areas between the United 
States, allied and partner countries, and the People’s Republic 
of China. 
SEC. 10388. REGIONAL INNOVATION ENGINES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—From amounts made available to the Direc-
torate, the Director shall make awards to eligible entities for the 
planning, establishment, and support of Regional Innovation 
Engines. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Regional Innovation Engines 
shall be to— 
(1) advance multidisciplinary, collaborative, use-inspired 
and translational research, technology development, in key 
technology focus areas; 
(2) address regional, national, societal, or geostrategic chal-
lenges; 
(3) leverage the expertise of multi-disciplinary and multi- 
sector partners, including partners from private industry, non-
profit organizations, and civil society organizations; and 
(4) support the development of scientific, innovation, entre-
preneurial, and STEM educational capacity within the region 
of the Regional Innovation Engine to grow and sustain regional 
innovation. 
(c) USES OF FUNDS.—Funds awarded under this section may 
be used by a Regional Innovation Engine to—
H. R. 4346—217 
(1) conduct use-inspired and translational research and 
technology development to advance innovation in at least one 
of the key technology focus areas and to help solve a compelling 
regional, national, societal, or geostrategic challenge; 
(2) further the development, adoption, and commercializa-
tion of innovations in key technology focus areas, including 
through support for proof-of-concept development, and through 
partnership with other Federal agencies and Federal labora-
tories, industry, including startup companies, labor organiza-
tions, civil society organizations, and State, territorial, local, 
and Tribal governments; 
(3) develop and manage, or facilitate access to, test beds 
and instrumentation, which may include fabrication facilities 
and cyberinfrastructure, to advance the development, integra-
tion, and demonstration of new, innovative technologies, 
including hardware or software; 
(4) establish traineeship programs for graduate students 
who pursue degrees and research related to the key technology 
focus areas leading to a masters or doctorate degree by pro-
viding funding and other assistance, and opportunities for 
research experiences in government or industry related to the 
students’ studies; 
(5) engage in outreach and engagement in the region to 
broaden participation in the activities of the Regional Innova-
tion Engine; and 
(6) reimburse, in part or in whole, the cost of instrumenta-
tion, technology transfer, and commercialization activities, 
including patenting and licensing, and for operations and staff, 
as the Director determines appropriate. 
(d) SELECTION PROCESS.—In making awards under this subtitle, 
the Director shall consider, in addition to the scientific and technical 
merit of the proposal, the extent to which the activities and locations 
proposed— 
(1) have the potential to create an innovation ecosystem, 
or enhance existing ecosystems and contribute to job creation 
in a region; 
(2) demonstrate a capacity to engage and partner with 
multiple types of institutions of higher education, industry, 
labor, nonprofit organizations, civil society organizations, other 
Federal agencies, Federal laboratories, State, local, and Tribal 
governments, and other appropriate organizations, including 
to inform research directions and account for ethical, societal, 
safety, and security implications relevant to the potential 
applications of the research; 
(3) demonstrate a capacity to broaden participation of popu-
lations historically underrepresented in STEM in the activities 
of the Regional Innovation Engine; and 
(4) demonstrate a plan and capability to prevent the 
inappropriate use or dissemination of the research and tech-
nology, including research results, data, and intellectual prop-
erty, as appropriate and consistent with the requirements of 
the relevant award. 
(e) REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) ELIGIBILITY.—For the purposes of this section, an 
‘‘eligible entity’’ means an institution of higher education, a 
nonprofit organization, a private sector entity, or a consortium 
thereof.
H. R. 4346—218 
(2) PARTNERSHIPS.—To be eligible for an award under this 
section an eligible entity— 
(A) shall include in its proposal partnership with 1 
or more institution that is— 
(i) a historically Black college or university; 
(ii) a Tribal College or University; 
(iii) a minority-serving institution; 
(iv) an EPSCoR institution; 
(v) an emerging research institution; or 
(vi) a community college; 
(B) may include partnership with 1 or more— 
(i) additional entities described in paragraph 
(2)(A); 
(ii) industry entities, including startups, small 
businesses, and public-private partnerships; 
(iii) economic development organizations or ven-
ture development organizations, as such terms are 
defined in section 28(a) of the Stevenson-Wydler Tech-
nology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 13701 et 
seq.), as added by section 10621 of this division; 
(iv) National Laboratories; 
(v) Federal laboratories, as defined in section 4 
of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act 
of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3703); 
(vi) Federal research facilities; 
(vii) labor organizations; 
(viii) entities described in paragraph (1) or (2) from 
allied or partner countries; 
(ix) other entities to be vital to the success of 
the program, as determined by the Director; 
(x) binational research and development founda-
tions and funds, excluding those affiliated with foreign 
entities of concern, as defined in section 10612; and 
(xi) Engineer Research and Development Center 
laboratories of the Army Corps of Engineers; and 
(C) shall include as part of its proposal a plan for— 
(i) establishing a sustained partnership that is 
jointly developed and managed, draws from the capac-
ities of each institution, and is mutually beneficial; 
and 
(ii) documents governance and management plans, 
financial contributions from non-Federal sources, and 
plans for ownership and use of any intellectual prop-
erty. 
(3) PROMOTING PARTNERSHIPS.—In making awards under 
this section, the Director shall encourage applicants for a 
Regional Innovation Engine that include multiple regional part-
ners as described in subsection (e)(2). 
(4) GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION.—In making awards under 
this section, the Director shall take into consideration the 
extent to which the proposals expand the geographic distribu-
tion of the Regional Innovation Engines, including by giving 
special consideration to rural-serving institutions of higher edu-
cation. 
(5) RESOURCE
AVAILABILITY.—The Director shall ensure 
that any eligible entity receiving an award under this section 
shall—
H. R. 4346—219 
(A) provide information on relevant currently existing 
resources available to the proposing team from all internal 
and external sources, including all partner organizations; 
and 
(B) include letters of collaboration from partner 
organizations that include information on resource con-
tributions committed by such partners. 
(f) COLLABORATION WITH REGIONAL TECHNOLOGY HUBS.—Each 
Regional Innovation Engine established under this section may 
collaborate and participate in, as appropriate, the activities of any 
regional technology hub designated under section 28 of the Steven-
son-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701 
et seq.), as added by section 10621. 
(g) DURATION.— 
(1) INITIAL
PERIOD.—An award under this section shall 
be for an initial period of 5 years. 
(2) RENEWAL.—An established Regional Innovation Engine 
may apply for, and the Director may award, extended funding 
for periods of 5 years on a merit-reviewed basis. 
(h) COMPETITIVE, MERIT-REVIEW.—In making awards under this 
section, the Director shall— 
(1) use a competitive, merit review process that includes 
peer review by a diverse group of individuals with relevant 
expertise from both the private and public sectors; and 
(2) ensure the focus areas of the Regional Innovation 
Engines do not substantially and unnecessarily duplicate the 
efforts of any other Regional Innovation Engine or any other 
similar effort at another Federal agency. 
(i) COLLABORATION.—In making awards under this section, the 
Director may collaborate with Federal departments and agencies 
whose missions contribute to or are affected by the technology 
focus area of the institute. 
SEC. 10389. TRANSLATION ACCELERATOR. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall establish Translation 
Accelerators to further the research, development, and commer-
cialization of innovation in the key technology focus areas. 
(b) PARTNERSHIPS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Each Translation Accelerator shall be 
comprised of a partnership including 2 or more of the following 
entities: 
(A) An institution of higher education. 
(B) A for-profit company. 
(C) A nonprofit organization. 
(D) A Federal agency. 
(E) Another entity, if that entity is determined by 
the Director to be vital to the success of the program. 
(2) 
INSTITUTIONAL
OR
ORGANIZATIONAL
LEVEL.—The 
Director shall work to ensure that such partnerships exist 
at the institutional or organization level, rather than solely 
at the principal investigator level. 
(3) COST SHARE.—Not less than 25 percent of the funding 
for an institute shall be provided by non-Federal entities. 
(4) NUMBER OF CENTERS AND INSTITUTES ESTABLISHED.— 
The Director shall endeavor to establish a balance in the 
number of Regional Innovation Engines and Translation Accel-
erators.