Sec. 103. Nanotechnology assistance
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In this section: The term commercialization means the process of converting nanotechnology research into products and processes that are used in the marketplace. The term degree-granting institution means an institution of higher education, as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 ), that awards an associate or baccalaureate degree. The term incubator means an entity affiliated with or housed in a degree-granting institution that provides space and coordinated and specialized services to entrepreneurial businesses that work in the field of nanotechnology commercialization and that meets selected criteria during the businesses’ startup phase, including providing services such as shared office space and services, access to equipment, access to telecommunications and technology services, flexible leases, specialized management assistance, access to financing, and other coordinated business or technical support services.
The term nanotechnology means the science of understanding and manipulating matter on an atomic or molecular scale, generally to create structures, and usually at a size smaller than 100 nanometers. The term Secretary means the Secretary of Commerce. The Secretary is authorized to establish within the Technology Administration of the Department of Commerce a grant program to support the establishment and development of incubators. From the amount appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in subsection
(e)for a fiscal year, the Secretary— shall use 80 percent of such amount to— make awards, on a competitive basis, in amounts of up to $2,500,000, to help acquire or renovate space for incubators; and make awards, on a competitive basis, in amounts of $50,000 to $150,000, for— developing curricula related to nanotechnology; providing services for commercialization, including preparing providing services to appropriate businesses including corporate charters, partnership agreements, and basic contracts, assistance with patents, trademarks, and copyrights, and technology acquisition services; or providing programming for entrepreneurs working in nanotechnology housed in an incubator; shall reserve 10 percent of the amount to make awards, on a competitive basis, in amounts of $50,000 to $150,000, for feasibility studies for determining the need for or siting of incubators; and shall reserve 10 percent for research regarding best practices for incubator programs, including the development of a benchmarking system based on uniform measures, and for dissemination of information regarding such practices. The Secretary is authorized to contract with organizations with expertise in incubation practices for the purposes of carrying out paragraph (2)(C). Funds awarded under paragraph (2)(A)(ii) may be used for— curriculum, training, or technical assistance related to nanotechnology developed by academic faculty with participation from entrepreneurship experts; programming that contributes to a coordinated set of business assistance tools, such as developing management teams, providing workforce development, forming strategic alliances, developing capital formation networks, and developing customized plans for commercialization; and hiring staff to coordinate the activities described in subparagraph
(A)or
(B)or for curriculum development. The Secretary shall make an award— described in paragraph (2)(A) to a nonprofit entity that has a strong affiliation with a degree-granting institution and manages or provides technical assistance to the degree-granting institution’s affiliated incubator, or if no nonprofit entity manages or provides technical assistance to the incubator, to the degree-granting institution managing the incubator; and described in paragraph (2)(B) to a degree-granting institution. Each entity desiring assistance under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require. The Secretary shall give priority to funding applications under this subsection for activities that— will be carried out at a facility that is included in the Centers and Networks of Excellence of the research and development program known as the National Nanotechnology Initiative; provide strong educational opportunities to students in fields related to nanotechnology and commercialization; and require significant collaboration between businesses and academia. The Secretary may give consideration to funding applications under this subsection that support— the building of new incubators; incubators that work with faculty entrepreneurs or university-based research; incubators that are located in areas with an established venture capital industry and other industry support, including leadership and legal support, for commercialization; or incubators that have secured additional private funding. The Secretary shall establish a Nanotechnology Startup Advisory Council composed of industry leaders, business and marketing professionals, venture capitalists, attorneys, and nanotechnology researchers. The purpose of the Nanotechnology Startup Advisory Council is to ensure that emerging nanotechnology companies create a sound foundation for new business. Not later than September 30 of the third fiscal year during which assistance is provided under this section, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress a report that— describes the most effective or innovative additions to curricula related to nanotechnology that were developed with such assistance; contains a comparison of the success of nanotechnology companies developed in incubators that received such assistance with the success of other nanotechnology companies; describes any factors leading to success of companies that were developed in incubators; recommends the best role for degree-granting institutions in commercialization; and contains a comparison of academic-affiliated incubators of specific missions and ages that received assistance under this section with other incubators with similar missions and ages. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $25,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2016, 2017, and 2018.
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Sec. 103
Nanotechnology assistance
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