Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§1862s–9 Translational Research Grants

Title 42 › CHAPTER 16 — NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION › § 1862s–9

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Foundation's Director must keep giving competitive, peer-reviewed grants to help turn federally funded research into products and services. Congress believes such commercialization can help society and the economy, and that not-for-profit groups can help researchers do that. Grants can pay for things like finding promising Foundation-funded research, helping past or current Foundation researchers make prototypes or do proof-of-concept work, building lasting partnerships between universities, industry, and other groups, creating innovation networks that meet academic and industry needs, and giving training, mentoring, and business advice to innovators. Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education (colleges and universities); public or nonprofit technology-transfer organizations; nonprofits that partner with a college or university; and consortia of two or more of these. Applicants must apply to the Director at the times and in the form the Director requires, with the information the Director asks for.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §1862s–9

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that—
(1)commercialization of federally funded research may benefit society and the economy; and
(2)not-for-profit organizations support the commercialization of federally funded research by providing useful business and technical expertise to researchers.
(b)Commercialization promotion
The Director of the Foundation shall continue to award grants on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis to eligible entities to promote the commercialization of federally funded research results.
(c)Use of funds
Activities supported by grants under this section may include—
(1)identifying Foundation-sponsored research and technologies that have the potential for accelerated commercialization;
(2)supporting prior or current Foundation-sponsored investigators, institutions of higher education, and non-profit organizations that partner with an institution of higher education in undertaking proof-of-concept work, including development of prototypes of technologies that are derived from Foundation-sponsored research and have potential market value;
(3)promoting sustainable partnerships between Foundation-funded institutions, industry, and other organizations within academia and the private sector with the purpose of accelerating the transfer of technology;
(4)developing multi-disciplinary innovation ecosystems which involve and are responsive to specific needs of academia and industry; and
(5)providing professional development, mentoring, and advice in entrepreneurship, project management, and technology and business development to innovators.
(d)Eligibility
(1)In general
The following organizations may be eligible for grants under this section: (A)
(B)Public or nonprofit technology transfer organizations.
(C)A nonprofit organization that partners with an institution of higher education.
(D)A consortia of 2 or more of the organizations described under subparagraphs (A) through (C).
(2)Lead organizations
Any eligible organization under paragraph (1) may apply as a lead organization.
(e)Applications
An eligible entity seeking a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Director at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director may require.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was enacted as part of the American Innovation and Competitiveness 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 2 of Pub. L. 114–329, set out as a note under section 1862s of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 1862s–9

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110