§16358 Strategic Research Portfolio Analysis and Coordination Plan

Summary

The Secretary must regularly review all the Department’s science and technology work using a strategic view. The review must look at three things: the scientific areas where the Department can help, national needs tied to the Department’s missions, and global energy trends. As part of that review, the Secretary must make a plan to improve coordination and teamwork on research, development, demonstration, and bringing technologies to market across different parts of the Department. The plan must identify scientific questions that span multiple programs, explain how applied technology programs are coordinating, and show ways to improve technical exchange—especially between the Office of Science and applied programs. It must ensure the research agenda includes both curiosity-driven basic research and basic work tied to applied programs, and that results from basic research get used in technology programs. The plan must also review programs with poor performance or cost overruns of 10 percent or more over one or more years; note activities better handled by states, industry, nonprofits, or universities; and evaluate and propose innovation hubs, institutes, and research centers, confirming they will support the Department’s mission and focus on research, development, and demonstration, and that any in the Office of Science fit that office’s mission. Every 4 years the Secretary must send the review and the plan to Congress.