Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110
§1862o–5 Meeting Critical National Science Needs
Title 42 › CHAPTER 16 — NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION › § 1862o–5
Summary
The Director must consider if awards and research meet national needs in innovation, competitiveness, safety, and science, technology, engineering, social science, and math. The Director must prioritize funding—including grants from the Foundation’s Research and Related Activities Account—for projects that advance those areas, but can fund other work that fits the Foundation’s mission.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §1862o–5
The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In general
In addition to any other criteria, the Director shall include consideration of the degree to which awards and research activities that otherwise qualify for support by the Foundation may assist in meeting critical national needs in innovation, competitiveness, safety and security, the physical and natural sciences, technology, engineering, social sciences, and mathematics.
(b)Priority treatment
The Director shall give priority in the selection of awards and the allocation of Foundation resources to proposed research activities, and grants funded under the Foundation’s Research and Related Activities Account, that can be expected to make contributions in physical or natural science, technology, engineering, social sciences, or mathematics, or that enhance competitiveness, innovation, or safety and security in the United States.
(c)Limitation
Nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict or bias the grant selection process against funding other areas of research deemed by the Foundation to be consistent with its mandate nor to change the core mission of the Foundation.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification Section was enacted as part of the America COMPETES Act, also known as the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science Act, and not as part of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 which comprises this chapter.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Definitions For definitions of terms used in this section, see section 7001 of Pub. L. 110–69, set out as a note under section 1862o of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 1862o–5
Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110