National Innovation Act--Commerce Provisions - Directs the President to establish the: (1) President's Council on Innovation; and (2) Innovation Acceleration Grants Program to support and promote innovation in the United States.
Requires the National Science Foundation (NSF) to: (1) submit a multiyear plan that describes how the funds authorized by this Act for doubling research funding shall be used; (2) study how the federal government should support the new discipline of service science; (3) expand the Graduate Research Fellowship Program and the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship Program; (4) establish a clearinghouse for sharing program elements used in successful professional science master's degree programs; (5) award grants for pilot programs to four-year institutions of higher education to facilitate the creation or improvement of such programs; and (6) award grants to local educational agencies to enable implementation of innovation-based experiential learning.
Requires the Office of Science and Technology Policy to submit recommendations for an increase in funding for research and development in physical sciences and engineering.
Requires the Department of Commerce to: (1) review federal programs that support local economic development and implement a strategy to fund initiatives that improve the ability of communities to participate successfully in the modern economy through innovation; (2) promote economic development opportunities for serving local communities as specified; and (3) coordinate activities focused on promoting innovation through development of regional innovation hot spots.
Requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology to support research and development for advanced manufacturing systems designed to increase productivity and efficiency and to create competitive advantages for U.S. businesses.
Requires the Director of the NSF to conduct a study regarding how the federal government should support, through research, education, and training, the new discipline of service science.
[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2390 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2390
To provide a national innovation initiative.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 8, 2006
Mr. Ensign (for himself, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Bingaman, Ms.
Stabenow, Mr. Kerry, Mr. DeWine, Mr. Allen, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr.
Rockefeller, Mr. Chambliss, and Mrs. Clinton) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide a national innovation initiative.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Innovation Act--Commerce
Provisions''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The United States is the most innovative Nation in the
world. Since our Nation's founding, exploration, opportunity,
and discovery have remained essential to fulfilling our
Nation's strategic economic and political objectives.
(2) In the 21st century, a well-educated and trained
workforce, investment in research and development, and a
regulatory and physical infrastructure that supports innovators
are essential to ensuring that the United States continues to
lead the global economy on innovation.
(3) America's future economic and national security will
largely depend on the creativity and commitment of our Nation
to unleash its innovation capacity.
(4) The world has become dramatically more interconnected
and competitive. Cutting edge research, world-class education,
and highly skilled labor pools are no longer within the sole
purview of the United States.
(5) The United States investment in basic research is
currently insufficient to meet the challenges we face.
(6) Federal support for basic research in the physical
sciences has consistently lagged behind that given to the life
sciences in recent years.
(7) Traditional measurements of innovation capacity focused
solely on inputs, such as research and development spending,
number of patents and value of physical infrastructure. The
traditional measurements are necessary but are not sufficient
metrics for innovation in the 21st century's knowledge economy.
(8) Current Federal budget constraints require
prioritization of spending and new programs must be funded
through existing funds or through identifiable funding offsets
whenever possible.
(9) A national, private sector-led, and government
supported plan is required if the United States is to
adequately respond to the challenges of increased global
competition and take advantage of the opportunities this
changing global dynamic presents.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to--
(1) make innovation a fundamental economic priority for the
United States;
(2) create the most fertile policy environment for
innovation to occur;
(3) increase the Federal Government's investment in basic
research, especially in the physical sciences;
(4) direct greater funding toward multidisciplinary and
frontier research where tomorrow's innovations are most likely
to occur; and
(5) secure a strong advanced manufacturing base in the
United States to ensure that as innovations occur, America is
poised to reap the benefits via the creation of new jobs and
investment.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Executive agency.--The term ``Executive agency'' has
the meaning given that term in section 105 of title 5, United
States Code.
(2) Extended production enterprise.--The term ``extended
production enterprise'' means a system in which key entities in
the manufacturing chain, including entities engaged in product
design and development, manufacturing, sourcing, distribution,
and user entities, are linked together through information
technology and other means to promote efficiency and
productivity.
(3) Innovation.--The term ``innovation'' means the
intersection of invention and insight leading to the creation
of social and economic value, including through efforts meeting
fundamental technology challenges and involving
multidisciplinary work and a high degree of novelty.
(4) Manufacturing extension partnership program.--The term
``Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program'' means the
Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program of the Department
of Commerce.
(5) Manufacturing technology program.--The term
``Manufacturing Technology Program'' means the Manufacturing
Technology Program under section 2521 of title 10, United
States Code.
(6) Regional innovation hot spots defined.--The term
``regional innovation hot spots'' means regions that are
defined by a high degree of innovation and the availability of
talent, investment, and infrastructure necessary to create and
sustain such innovation.
(7) Service science.--The term ``service science'' means
curriculums, research programs, and training regimens,
including service sciences, management, and engineering (SSME)
programs, that exist or that are being developed to teach
individuals to apply technology, organizational process
management, and industry-specific knowledge to solve complex
problems.
(8) Small business innovation research program.--The term
``Small Business Innovation Research Program'' has the meaning
given that term in section 2500(11) of title 10, United States
Code.
(9) Small business technology transfer program.--The term
``Small Business Technology Transfer Program'' has the meaning
given that term in section 2500(12) of title 10, United States
Code.
(10) SSME.--The term ``SSME'' means the discipline known as
service sciences, management, and engineering that--
(A) applies scientific, engineering and management
disciplines to tasks that one organization performs
beneficially for others, generally as part of the
services sector of the economy; and
(B) integrates computer science, operations
research, industrial engineering, business strategy,
management sciences, and social and legal sciences, in
order to encourage innovation in how organizations
create value for customers and shareholders that could
not be achieved through such disciplines working in
isolation.
SEC. 4. PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL ON INNOVATION.
(a) In General.--The President shall establish a President's
Council on Innovation (in this section referred to as the ``Council'').
(b) Duties.--The Council's duties shall include--
(1) monitoring implementation of legislative proposals and
initiatives for promoting innovation, including policies
related to research funding, taxation, immigration, trade, and
education that are proposed in this and other Acts;
(2) in consultation with the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget, developing a process for using metrics
to assess the impact of existing and proposed policies and
rules that affect innovation capabilities in the United States;
(3) identifying opportunities and making recommendations
for the heads of executive agencies to improve innovation,
monitoring, and reporting on the implementation of such
recommendations;
(4) developing metrics for measuring the progress of the
Federal Government with respect to improving conditions for
innovation, including through talent development, investment,
and infrastructure improvements; and
(5) submitting an annual report to the President and
Congress on such progress.
(c) Membership and Coordination.--
(1) Membership.--The Council shall be composed of the
Secretary or head of each of the following:
(A) The Department of Commerce.
(B) The Department of Defense.
(C) The Department of Education.
(D) The Department of Energy.
(E) The Department of Health and Human Services.
(F) The Department of Homeland Security.
(G) The Department of Labor.
(H) The Department of the Treasury.
(I) The National Aeronautics and Space
Administration.
(J) The Securities and Exchange Commission.
(K) The National Science Foundation.
(L) The Office of the United States Trade
Representative.
(M) The Office of Management and Budget.
(N) The Office of Science and Technology Policy.
(2) Chairperson.--The Secretary of Commerce shall serve as
chairperson of the Council.
(3) Coordination.--The chairperson of the Council shall
ensure appropriate coordination between the Council and the
National Economic Council and the National Security Council.
(d) Development of Innovation Agenda.--
(1) In general.--The Council shall develop a comprehensive
agenda for strengthening the innovation capabilities of the
Federal Government and State governments, academia, and the
private sector in the United States.
(2) Consultation.--The comprehensive agenda required by
paragraph (1) shall be developed in consultation with
appropriate representatives of the private sector, scientific
organizations, and academic organizations.
SEC. 5. INNOVATION ACCELERATION GRANTS.
(a) Grant Program.--The President shall establish a grant program,
to be known as the ``Innovation Acceleration Grants Program'', to
support and promote innovation in the United States. Priority in the
awarding of grants shall be given to projects that meet fundamental
technology challenges and that involve multidisciplinary work and a
high degree of novelty.
(b) Awarding of Grants Through Departments and Agencies.--
(1) Funding goals.--The President shall ensure that it is
the goal of each Executive agency that finances research in
science, mathematics, engineering, and technology to allocate
at least 3 percent of the agency's total annual research and
development budget to funding grants under the Innovation
Acceleration Grants Program.
(2) Administration.--
(A) In general.--Each head of an Executive agency
awarding grants under paragraph (1) shall submit a plan
for implementing the grant program within such
Executive agency to the Director of the Office of
Science and Technology Policy and the Director of the
Office of Management and Budget. The implementation
plan shall be submitted not later than 90 days after
the date of enactment of this Act. The implementation
plan may incorporate existing initiatives of the
Executive agencies that promote research in innovation
as described in subsection (a).
(B) Required metrics.--The head of each Executive
agency submitting an implementation plan pursuant to
this section shall include metrics upon which grant
funding decisions will be made and metrics for
assessing the success of the grants awarded.
(C) Grant duration and renewals.--
(i) In general.--Any grants issued by an
Executive agency under this section shall be
for a period not to exceed 3 years.
(ii) Evaluation.--Not later than 90 days
prior to the expiration of a grant issued under
this section, the Executive agency that
approved the grant shall complete an evaluation
of the effectiveness of the grant based on the
metrics established pursuant to subparagraph
(B). In its evaluation, the Executive agency
shall consider the extent to which the program
funded by the grant met the goals of quality
improvement and job creation.
(iii) Publication of review.--The Executive
agency shall publish and make available to the
public the review of each grant approved
pursuant to this section.
(iv) Failure to meet metrics.--Any grant
that the Executive agency awarding the grant
determines has failed to satisfy any of the
metrics developed pursuant to subparagraph (B),
shall not be eligible for a renewal.
(v) Renewal.--A grant issued under this
section that satisfies all of the metrics
developed pursuant to subparagraph (B), may be
renewed once for a period not to exceed 3
years. Additional renewals may be considered
only if the head of the Executive agency makes
a specific finding that the program being
funded involves a significant technology
advance that requires a longer timeframe to
complete critical research, and the research
satisfies all the metrics developed pursuant to
subparagraph (B).
SEC. 6. A NATIONAL COMMITMENT TO BASIC RESEARCH.
(a) Plan for Increased Research.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Science
Foundation shall submit to Congress a comprehensive, multiyear plan
that describes how the funds authorized in subsection (b) shall be
used. Such plan shall be developed with a focus on utilizing basic
research in physical science and engineering to optimize the United
States economy as a global competitor and leader in productive
innovation.
(b) Increased Funding for National Science Foundation.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to the National Science Foundation for
the purpose of doubling research funding the following amounts:
(1) $6,440,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.
(2) $7,280,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
(3) $8,120,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.
(4) $8,960,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
(5) $9,800,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
(c) Recommendations for Research and Development Funding.--Not
later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall evaluate
and, as appropriate, submit to Congress recommendations for an increase
in funding for research and development in physical sciences and
engineering in consultation with agencies and departments of the United
States with significant research and development budgets.
SEC. 7. REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
(a) Development of Funding Strategy.--
(1) In general.--The Assistant Secretary for Economic
Development of the Department of Commerce shall review Federal
programs that support local economic development and prepare
and implement a strategy to focus funding on initiatives that
improve the ability of communities to participate successfully
in the modern economy through innovation. In preparing the
strategy, priority should be given to projects that--
(A) emphasize private sector cooperation with State
and local governments and nonprofit organizations
focused on regional economic development as the means
of achieving specific objectives related to the support
and promotion of innovation; and
(B) are the most successful in meeting the metrics
established under subsection (b).
(2) Coordination.--The Assistant Secretary shall coordinate
the development and implementation of the strategy with the
activities carried out by the Under Secretary for Technology
under subsection (d).
(b) Evaluation of Programs.--The Assistant Secretary for Economic
Development of the Department of Commerce shall develop metrics to
measure the success of Federal programs in supporting and promoting
innovation at the local community level while minimizing bureaucracy
and overhead expenses.
(c) Promotion of Economic Development Opportunities.--The Assistant
Secretary for Economic Development of the Department of Commerce should
work with organizations focused on economic development to highlight
opportunities for such organizations to serve local communities through
grants focused on economic development and investment in companies
pursuing innovation.
(d) Regional Innovation Hot Spots.--
(1) Promotion of regional innovation hot spots.--The Under
Secretary for Technology of the Department of Commerce shall
coordinate activities focused on promoting innovation through
the development of regional innovation hot spots.
(2) Guide to developing successful regional innovation hot
spots.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Commerce, in consultation with representatives of
regional innovation hot spots, shall publish a report,
to be titled the ``Guide to Developing Successful
Regional Innovation Hot Spots'', that examines
successful regional innovation hot spots and includes
recommendations for establishing and fostering regional
innovation hot spots.
(B) Content.--The report required under
subparagraph (A) shall--
(i) include information on the evaluation
of human capital;
(ii) include information on the role of
sponsoring institutions, such as universities,
nonprofit organizations, and laboratories, in
establishing and fostering regional innovation
hot spots;
(iii) include information on the role of
State and local government leaders, leaders in
the research and business communities, and
community organizations in establishing and
fostering regional innovation hot spots;
(iv) discuss the importance of
collaboration by public and private sector
leaders;
(v) identify sources of funding for these
activities within Federal, State, and local
governments and the private sector; and
(vi) include recommendations for developing
strategic plans to stimulate innovation,
including recommendations relating to knowledge
transfer and commercialization, the support of
regional entrepreneurship and increased
innovation within existing regional firms, and
the linking of primary institutions engaged in
the innovation process.
(3) Regional innovation hot spot metrics.--
(A) Development of metrics.--In conjunction with
publishing the report required under paragraph (2), the
Secretary of Commerce shall develop the following sets
of metrics:
(i) Metrics to be considered for
identifying potential regional innovation hot
spots (in this subsection referred to as
``identifying metrics'').
(ii) Metrics to be considered for
evaluating the impact and effectiveness of
established regional innovation hot spots (in
this subsection referred to as ``evaluation
metrics'').
(B) Use of metrics.--The Under Secretary of
Commerce for Technology shall use the identifying
metrics to conduct biannual assessments of potential
regional clusters and shall use the evaluation metrics
to assess the impact and effectiveness of established
regional innovation hot spots in improving the regional
economy and regional job market. The Under Secretary
shall also assess the cost effectiveness of operating
within each regional hot spot. The Under Secretary
shall report the biannual assessments to Congress.
SEC. 8. DEVELOPMENT OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS.
(a) Research and Development.--The Director of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology shall support research and
development in collaboration with entities and organizations from the
industrial sector to supplement and support work in the private sector
on advanced manufacturing systems designed to increase productivity and
efficiency and to create competitive advantages for United States
businesses. These research and development activities should focus on
the following activities:
(1) Supporting industry efforts to develop innovative,
state-of-the-art manufacturing processes, advanced technologies
through interoperable standards, and related concepts,
including--
(A) advanced distributed and desktop manufacturing
linked to and made compatible with the extended
production enterprise system described in paragraph
(2);
(B) non-contact quality inspection processes linked
to and made compatible with the extended production
enterprise system;
(C) small lot manufacturing processes that are--
(i) as cost-effective as mass production
processes; and
(ii) linked to and compatible with the
extended production enterprise system; and
(D) the use of state-of-the-art materials and
processes at the nanotechnological level.
(2) Supporting industry efforts to develop an extended
production enterprise system that integrates key entities,
including entities engaged in product design and development,
manufacturing, sourcing, distribution, and user entities,
including through the development of--
(A) interoperable software and standards designed
to maximize the compatibility of the design, modeling,
and manufacturing stages of the manufacturing process;
and
(B) supply chain software.
(b) Coordination of Activities.--The Director of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology shall coordinate activities under
subsection (a) with activities under--
(1) the Small Business Innovation Research Program;
(2) the Small Business Technology Transfer Program; and
(3) the Manufacturing Technology Program of the Department
of Defense.
(c) Testing.--The Director of the National Institute of Standards
and Technology shall support the work of entities and organizations
from the industrial sector in developing prototypes and testing areas
for testing and refining, in actual production conditions, the
processes, technologies, and extended production enterprise system
described in subsection (a)(2) in order to maximize productivity gains
and cost efficiencies.
(d) Development of Standards.--The Director of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, in coordination with entities
and organizations from the industrial sector and the Manufacturing
Technology Program, shall support standards to be used as manufacturing
performance criteria to accelerate the adoption of improvements and
innovative processes and protocols developed under subsection (a).
(e) Pilot Test Beds of Excellence.--
(1) Establishment.--The Director of the National Institute
of Standards and Technology shall, in collaboration with
entities and organizations from the industrial sector, support
not more than 3 pilot test beds of excellence in manufacturing
fields important to advanced technologies developed under
subsection (a), such as nanotechnology, to be used by the
public and private sector. The test beds of excellence shall
focus on production development, particularly the invention,
prototyping, and engineering development stages of the
manufacturing process.
(2) Competition.--The Secretary of Commerce shall conduct a
competition to select the pilot test beds of excellence based
on criteria and metrics established by the Secretary prior to
the competition.
(3) Funding.--The Secretary of Commerce may provide the
pilot test beds of excellence selected pursuant to the
competition set forth in paragraph (2) with an appropriate
level of funding if and only if the following conditions are
satisfied:
(A) No more than \1/3\ of the funding of each test
bed of excellence is provided by the Federal
Government.
(B) At least \1/3\ of the cost of each test bed of
excellence is provided by participants from the private
sector.
(C) At least \1/3\ of the cost of each test bed of
excellence is provided by State or local governments.
(4) Review of funded test beds.--Within 3 years of the
start of Federal funding for any test bed of excellence
pursuant to this section, the Secretary of Commerce shall use
the metrics established pursuant to paragraph (2) and any
additional review metrics that the Secretary determines
appropriate to assess the performance of the federally funded
test beds of excellence. Any test bed of excellence that fails
to satisfy any of the performance metrics will be ineligible
for additional Federal funding.
(5) Sunset provision.--Federal funding of any test bed of
excellence shall cease 5 years after the date of enactment of
this Act.
(f) Manufacturing Extension Partnership Focus on Innovation.--The
Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall
ensure that the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program develops a
focus on innovation, including through technology diffusion, supply and
distribution chain integration, and the dissemination of the processes,
technologies, and extended production enterprise systems developed
under this section.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Department of Commerce for the purpose of carrying
out activities under this section the following amounts:
(1) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.
(2) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
(3) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.
(4) $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
(5) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
SEC. 9. STUDY ON SERVICE SCIENCE.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that, in order
to strengthen the competitiveness of United States enterprises and
institutions and to prepare the people of the United States for high-
wage, high-skill employment, the Federal Government should better
understand and respond strategically to the emerging vocation and
learning discipline known as service science.
(b) Study.--Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Director of the National Science Foundation shall
conduct a study and report to Congress regarding how the Federal
Government should support, through research, education, and training,
the new discipline of service science.
(c) Outside Resources.--In conducting the study under subsection
(b), the Director of the National Science Foundation shall consult with
leaders from 2- and 4-year institutions of higher education (as defined
in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)),
leaders from corporations, and other relevant parties.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
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