Department of Energy National Laboratory Cooperative Research and Technology Competitiveness Act of 1989

Summary

Department of Energy National Laboratory Cooperative Research and Technology Competitiveness Act of 1989 - Defines terms and lists laboratories subject to this Act. Declares it a mission of the National Laboratories to foster, consistent with the national security and a fair return on taxpayers' investment, the commercialization of technology developed through laboratory activities. Directs the Secretary of Energy to take actions to further this mission. Title I: National Laboratory Centers for Technology Management - Directs the Secretary to prescribe regulations to ensure that the director of any National Laboratory has the authority to negotiate and enter into cooperative research and development agreements with various private and public entities and to negotiate intellectual property licensing agreements for National Laboratory property. Authorizes National Laboratory directors to include specified types of provisions in cooperative agreements. Enumerates mandatory determinations the director must make when deciding whether to enter an agreement, including a determination that National Laboratory facilities are available and that the proposed work is consistent with applicable guidelines and would neither interfere with Department of Energy programs nor create a financial burden on the laboratory. Sets forth criteria the director of a National Laboratory must consider when deciding which agreements to enter into, including a preference for businesses that agree to manufacture the relevant property substantially in the United States. Limits the cumulative total of nonappropriated funds received in any year under agreements under this title to ten percent of the annual budget of the laboratory, unless the Secretary gives advance approval. Prescribes criteria to be met in the interest of avoiding cooperative research and development agreements or intellectual property licenses that reflect any conflict of interest with respect to National Laboratory personnel. Requires each National Laboratory to keep records of all agreements and to submit them annually to the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to: (1) review existing regulations, policy, conflict of interest standards, and incentives for non-governmental parties in connection with cooperative research agreements; (2) formulate and implement comprehensive policy to advance this Act's objectives; and (3) report review findings and recommendations to the Congress and to the President. Title II: Centers for Research on High-Temperature Superconducting Technologies - Directs the Secretary of Energy to: (1) initiate and implement a cooperative program of research on enabling high-temperature superconductor technology and its practical applications; (2) form the Council for Research on Enabling Technologies, comprising representatives of appropriate government, university, and industry personnel, to advise the Secretary concerning goals and strategies; and (3) establish cooperative research centers in enabling technologies for high-temperature superconducting materials and applications at at least one National Laboratory. Prescribes criteria for selecting Laboratories. Directs the Secretary to ensure that National Laboratories may participate in the cooperative program and to enter into agreements and contracts to provide for their active participation. Requires the program to include provisions for at least one National Laboratory to conduct research, experimental, and development activities relating to high-temperature superconductivity. Permits personnel exchanges among firms or universities and National Laboratories participating in the program. Requires user fees in connection with Department of Energy (DOE) facility use authorized by the Secretary. Authorizes the Secretary to include high-temperature superconductivity activities in DOE research and development budget requests for FY 1990 through 1995. Describes cost-sharing features to apply to National Laboratories participating in the program. Prohibits a laboratory from receiving from any person more than $10,000,000 of nonappropriated funds under any cooperative research and development agreement under this title, unless the Secretary approves in advance. Title III: General Provisions - Directs the Secretary to issue regulations with respect to cooperative agreements, patent ownership, and intellectual property, subjecting them to preissuance review by the Office of Federal Procurement Policy. Lists provisions to govern disposition of title to property developed by National Laboratories. Permits waivers of Government license rights in connection with categories of inventions determined to be directly related to research and development on the design, manufacture, or use of any nuclear weapon or component. Enumerates intellectual property rights and royalty provisions that must be included in DOE funding agreements to operate a National Laboratory. Vests in arbitration boards the responsibility of determining the amount to be paid to the United States by National Laboratory managers or directors for intellectual property rights retained by the laboratory. Authorizes the Secretary to require the licensing to third parties of all intellectual property subject to this title's provisions. Directs the Secretary and the Inspector General of the Department of Energy, along with the Comptroller General, to conduct periodic audits of National Laboratory activities. Denies Government liability in connection with claims alleging injury resulting from products derived from intellectual property acquired under this Act.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

No timeline events have been ingested for this record yet.

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

4 official files

• Reported to Senate (text)

  Reported to Senate · EN

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 4 August 1989

  Open at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 9 March 1989

  Open at official source

Sponsors

No sponsors or actors listed by the source.

Related records

No cross-record relationships stored yet.