Sec. 4. Regional technology hub program

2,256 words·~10 min read·/bill/116/s/3832/is/section-4

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Subsection

(a)of section 27 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 ( 15 U.S.C. 3722 ) is amended— by redesignating paragraphs

(2)through

(4)as paragraphs

(3)through (5), respectively; and by inserting after paragraph

(1)the following: The term key technology focus areas means the areas included on the most recent list under section 8A(c)(2) of the Act of May 10, 1950 (64 Stat. 149, chapter 171; 42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.). . Paragraph

(5)of such subsection, as redesignated by paragraph

(1)of this subsection, is amended by striking purposes of and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting the following: “purposes of— accelerating the commercialization of research; strengthening the competitive position of industry through the development, commercial adoption, or deployment of technology; and providing financial grants, loans, or direct financial investment to commercialize technology. . Such section is amended— by redesignating subsections

(d)through

(h)as subsections

(e)through (i), respectively; and by inserting after subsection

(c)the following: As part of the program established under subsection (b), the Secretary shall carry out a program— to designate eligible consortia as regional technology hubs that create the conditions, within a region, to facilitate activities that— enable United States leadership in a key technology focus area, complementing the Federal research and development investments under section 8A of the Act of May 10, 1950 (64 Stat. 149, chapter 171; 42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.); and support regional economic development that diffuses innovation capacity around the United States, enabling better broad-based growth and competitiveness in key technology focus areas; and to support regional technology hubs designated under clause (i). For purposes of this section, an eligible consortium is a consortium that— includes— an institution of higher education; a local or Tribal government or other political subdivision of a State; a government of a State or the economic development representative of a State; and an economic development organization or similar entity that is focused primarily on improving science, technology, innovation, or entrepreneurship; and may include 1 or more— nonprofit entities with relevant expertise; venture development organizations; financial institutions; educational institutions, including career and technical education schools; workforce training organizations; industry associations; firms in the key technology focus areas; Federal laboratories; Centers (as defined in section 25(a) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act ( 15 U.S.C. 278k(a) )); Manufacturing USA institutes (as described in section 34(d) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act ( 15 U.S.C. 278s(d) )); and institutions receiving an award under paragraph

(6)or

(7)of section 8A(c) of the Act of May 10, 1950 (64 Stat. 149, chapter 171; 42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.). The Secretary shall carry out this subsection through the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development and the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology, jointly. The Secretary shall use a competitive process for the designation of regional technology hubs under paragraph (1)(A)(i). During the 5-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of the Endless Frontier Act , the Secretary shall designate not fewer than 10 and not more than 15 eligible consortia as regional technology hubs under paragraph (1)(A)(i). In conducting the competitive process under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall ensure geographic distribution in the designation of regional technology hubs— aiming to designate regional technology hubs in as many regions of the United States as possible; and focusing on localities that have clear potential and relevant assets for developing a key technology focus area but have not yet become leading technology centers. The Secretary shall carry out clause

(ii)of paragraph (1)(A) through the award of grants to eligible consortia designated under clause

(i)of such paragraph. Each grant awarded under subparagraph

(A)shall be for a period of 5 years, but may be renewed once for an additional period of 5 years. The total Federal financial assistance awarded in a given year to an eligible consortium in support of the eligible consortium's operation as a regional technology hub under this subsection shall not exceed amounts as follows: In fiscal year 2021, 90 percent of the total funding of the regional technology hub in that fiscal year. In fiscal year 2022, 85 percent of the total funding of the regional technology hub in that fiscal year. In fiscal year 2023, 80 percent of the total funding of the regional technology hub in that fiscal year. In fiscal year 2024 and in each fiscal year thereafter, 75 percent of the total funding of the regional technology hub in that fiscal year. The recipient of a grant awarded under subparagraph

(A)shall use the grant for multiple activities determined appropriate by the Secretary, including— the permissible activities set forth under subsection (c)(2); and activities in support of key technology focus areas— to develop the region’s skilled workforce through the training and retraining of workers and alignment of career technical training and educational programs in the region’s elementary and secondary schools and institutions of higher education; to develop regional strategies for infrastructure improvements and site development in support of the regional technology hub’s plans and programs; to support business activity that develops the domestic supply chain and encourages the creation of new business entities; to attract new private, public, and philanthropic investment in the region for developing innovation capacity, including establishing regional venture and loan funds for financing technology commercialization, new business formation, and business expansions; to further the development of innovations in the key technology focus areas, including innovations derived from research conducted at institutions of higher education or other research entities, including research conducted by 1 or more university technology centers established under section 8A(c)(6) of the Act of May 10, 1950 (64 Stat. 149, chapter 171; 42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.), through activities that may include— proof-of-concept development and prototyping; public-private partnerships in order to reduce the cost, time, and risk of commercializing new technologies; creating and funding competitions to allow entrepreneurial ideas from institutions of higher education to illustrate their commercialization potential; facilitating mentorships between local and national business leaders and potential entrepreneurs to encourage successful commercialization; creating and funding for-profit or not-for-profit entities that could enable researchers at institutions of higher education and other research entities to further develop new technology prior to seeking commercial financing, through patient funding, advice, staff support, or other means; and providing facilities for start-up companies where technology maturation could occur; and to carry out such other activities as the Secretary considers appropriate to improve United States competitiveness and regional economic development to support a key technology focus area and that would further the purposes of the Endless Frontiers Act . An eligible consortium seeking designation as a regional technology hub under clause

(i)of paragraph (1)(A) and support under clause

(ii)of such paragraph shall submit to the Secretary an application therefor at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may specify. In preparing an application for submittal under subparagraph (A), an applicant shall, to the extent practicable, consult with one or more university technology centers established under section 8A(c)(6) of the Act of May 10, 1950 (64 Stat. 149, chapter 171; 42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.), that are either geographically relevant or are conducting research on relevant key technology focus areas. In selecting an eligible consortium that submitted an application under paragraph (4)(A) for designation and support under paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall consider, at a minimum, the following: The potential of the eligible consortium to advance the development of new technologies in a key technology focus area. The likelihood of positive regional economic effect, including increasing the number of high wage jobs, and creating new economic opportunities for economically disadvantaged populations. How the eligible consortium plans to integrate with and leverage the resources of one or more university technology centers established under section 8A(c)(6) of the Act of May 10, 1950 (64 Stat. 149, chapter 171; 42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.), in a related key technology focus area. How the eligible consortium will engage with the private sector, including small- and medium-sized enterprises to commercialize new technologies and develop new supply chains in the United States in a key technology focus area. How the eligible consortium will carry out workforce development and skills acquisition programming, including through the use of apprenticeships, mentorships, and other related activities authorized by the Secretary, to support the development of a key technology focus area. How the eligible consortium will improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education programs in the identified region in elementary and secondary school and higher education institutions located in the identified region to support the development of a key technology focus area. How the eligible consortium plans to develop partnerships with venture development organizations and sources of private investment in support of private sector activity, including launching new or expanding existing companies, in a key technology focus area. How the eligible consortium plans to organize the activities of regional partners in the public, private, and philanthropic sectors in support of the proposed regional technology hub, including the development of necessary infrastructure improvements and site preparation. How the eligible consortium plans to address economic inclusion, including ensuring that skill development, entrepreneurial assistance, and other activities focus on economically disadvantaged populations. In this paragraph: The term manufacturing extension center has the meaning given the term Center in section 25(a) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act ( 15 U.S.C. 278k(a) . The term Manufacturing USA institute means a Manufacturing USA institute described in section 34(d) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act ( 15 U.S.C. 278s(d) ). The Secretary shall coordinate the activities of regional technology hubs designated under this subsection, the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership, and the Manufacturing USA Program with each other to the degree that doing so does not diminish the effectiveness of the ongoing activities of a manufacturing extension center or a Manufacturing USA institute. In order to coordinate activities under subparagraph (B), the Secretary may condition the award of a grant or support under this subsection or section 25 or 34 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act ( 15 U.S.C. 278k and 278s) upon submittal to the coordination efforts of the Secretary under subparagraph

(B)of this paragraph. Coordination by the Secretary under subparagraph

(B)may include the following: The alignment of activities of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership with the activities of regional technology hubs designated under this subsection, if applicable. The alignment of activities of the Manufacturing USA Program and the Manufacturing USA institutes with the activities of regional technology hubs designated under this subsection, if applicable. In assisting regional technology hubs designated under paragraph (1)(A)(i), the Secretary— shall collaborate with Federal departments and agencies whose missions contribute to the goals of the regional technology hub; may accept funds from other Federal agencies to support grants and activities under this subsection; and may establish interagency agreements with other Federal departments or agencies to provide preferential consideration for financial or technical assistance to a regional technology hub designated under this subsection if all applicable requirements for the financial or technical assistance are met. For each grant awarded under paragraph

(3)for a regional technology hub, the Secretary shall— develop metrics to assess the effectiveness of the activities funded in making progress toward the purposes set forth under paragraph (1)(A); establish standards for the performance of the regional technology hub that are based on the metrics developed under clause (i); and 2 years after the initial award under paragraph

(3)and each year thereafter until Federal financial assistance under this subsection for the regional technology hub is discontinued, conduct an assessment of the regional technology hub to confirm whether the performance of the regional technology hub is meeting the standards for performance established under clause (ii). Not less frequently than once each year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives an annual report on the results of the assessments conducted by the Secretary under subparagraph (A)(iii) during the period covered by the report. . Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall commence a competition under paragraph (2)(A) of section 27(d) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980, as added by paragraph (1). Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, if the Secretary has received at least 1 application under paragraph

(4)of such section from an eligible consortium whom the Secretary considers suitable for designation under paragraph (1)(A)(i) of such section, the Secretary shall— designate at least 1 regional technology hub under paragraph (1)(A)(i) of such section; and award a grant under paragraph (3)(A) of such section to each regional technology hub designated under clause

(i)of this subparagraph. Subsection

(i)of such section, as redesignated by subsection (c)(1)(A) of this section, is amended— by striking From amounts and inserting the following: From amounts ; in paragraph (1), as redesignated by paragraph

(1)of this subsection, by striking this section and inserting the provisions of this section other than subsection

(d); and by adding at the end the following: There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out subsection

(d)$10,000,000,000 for the period of fiscal year 2021 through 2025. .

Connectionstraces to 4

Traces to 4 documents

U.S. Code

1 reference not yet in our index