83_FR_19136 83 FR 19052 - Request for Information Regarding Federal Technology Transfer Authorities and Processes

83 FR 19052 - Request for Information Regarding Federal Technology Transfer Authorities and Processes

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Institute of Standards and Technology

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 84 (May 1, 2018)

Page Range19052-19054
FR Document2018-09182

The Federal government invests approximately $150 billion annually \1\ in research and development (R&D). For the results of this investment to produce economic gain and maintain a strong national security innovation base, the results must be transferred to private companies to create new products and services. In order to advance the President's Management Agenda to modernize government for the 21st century, including the associated Lab-to-Market cross-agency priority (CAP) Goal in coordination with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is initiating an effort to refocus Federal technology transfer on sound business principles based on private investment. NIST requests information from the public regarding the current state of Federal technology transfer and the public's ability to engage with Federal laboratories and access federally funded R&D through collaborations, licensing, and other mechanisms. Responses to this RFI will inform NIST's evaluation of Federal technology transfer practices, policies, regulations, and/or laws that promote the transfer of Federal technologies and the practical application of those technologies, including through commercialization by the private sector. NIST will hold public meetings regarding the initiative and the stakeholder engagement process at the times and locations indicated below. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 84 (Tuesday, May 1, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 1, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19052-19054]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-09182]


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 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology

[Docket Number: 180220199-819-01]


Request for Information Regarding Federal Technology Transfer 
Authorities and Processes

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public meetings; Request for Information (RFI).

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SUMMARY: The Federal government invests approximately $150 billion 
annually \1\ in research and development (R&D). For the results of this 
investment to produce economic gain and maintain a strong national 
security innovation base, the results must be transferred to private 
companies to create new products and services. In order to advance the 
President's Management Agenda to modernize government for the 21st 
century, including the associated Lab-to-Market cross-agency priority 
(CAP) Goal in coordination with the White House Office of Science and 
Technology Policy (OSTP), the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology (NIST) is initiating an effort to refocus Federal technology 
transfer on sound business principles based on private investment. NIST 
requests information from the public regarding the current state of 
Federal technology transfer and the public's ability to engage with 
Federal laboratories and access federally funded R&D through 
collaborations, licensing, and other mechanisms. Responses to this RFI 
will inform NIST's evaluation of Federal technology transfer practices, 
policies, regulations, and/or laws that promote the transfer of Federal 
technologies and the practical application of those technologies, 
including through commercialization by the private sector. NIST will 
hold public meetings regarding the initiative and the stakeholder 
engagement process at the times and locations indicated below.
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    \1\ Analytical Perspectives, Budget of the United States 
Government, Fiscal Year 2019, Ch. 18. Available at https://www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys/pkg/BUDGET-2019-PER/pdf/BUDGET-2019-PER.pdf.

DATES: 
    For Comments:
    Comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on July 30, 
2018. Written comments in response to the RFI should be submitted 
according to the instructions in the ADDRESSES and SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION sections below. Submissions received after that date may 
not be considered.
    For Public Meetings/Webcast:
    A meeting will be held on May 17, 2018 from 9 a.m. to noon Pacific 
Time at the Silicon Valley USPTO Regional Office in San Jose, CA. 
Requests to participate must be received via the meeting website no 
later than May 15, 2018.
    A meeting will be held on May 21, 2018 from 9 a.m. to noon Mountain 
Time at the Renaissance Denver Downtown City Center Hotel in Denver, 
CO. Requests to participate must be received via the meeting website no 
later than May 17, 2018.
    A meeting will be held on May 31, 2018 from 9 a.m. to noon Central 
Time at the Hilton Chicago/Oak Lawn in Oak Lawn, IL. Requests to 
participate must be received via the meeting website no later than May 
29, 2018.
    A meeting and simultaneous webcast will be held on June 14, 2018 
from 9 a.m. to noon Eastern Time at the NIST Campus in Gaithersburg, 
MD. Requests to participate must be received via the meeting website no 
later than June 8, 2018.

ADDRESSES: 
    For Comments:
    Responses can be submitted by either of the following methods:
     Agency Website: https://www.nist.gov/tpo/roi-rfi-response. 
Follow the instructions for sending comments on the agency website.
     Email: roi@nist.gov. Include ``RFI Response: Federal 
Technology Transfer Authorities and Processes'' in the subject line of 
the message.
    Instructions: Attachments will be accepted in plain text, Microsoft 
Word, or Adobe PDF formats. Comments containing references, studies, 
research, and other empirical data that are not widely published should 
include copies or electronic links of the referenced materials.
    All submissions, including attachments and other supporting 
materials, will become part of the public record and subject to public 
disclosure. NIST reserves the right to publish comments publicly, 
unedited and in their entirety. Sensitive personal information, such as 
account numbers or Social Security numbers, or names of other 
individuals, should not be included. Submissions will not be edited to 
remove any identifying or contact information. Do not submit 
confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive or protected 
information. Comments that contain profanity, vulgarity, threats, or 
other inappropriate language or content will not be considered.
    For Public Meetings/Webcast:
    A May 17, 2018 public meeting will be held in the Silicon Valley 
USPTO Regional Office, California Room, 26 S. Fourth Street, San Jose, 
CA.
    A May 21, 2018 public meeting will be held in the Renaissance 
Denver Downtown City Center Hotel, Beauty Ballroom, 918 17th Street, 
Denver, CO.
    A May 31, 2018 public meeting will be held in the Hilton Chicago/
Oak Lawn, Oak Room, 9333 S Cicero Ave, Oak Lawn, IL.
    A June 14, 2018 public meeting and simultaneous webcast will be 
held in Building 101, West Square on the NIST

[[Page 19053]]

Campus, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD.
    Details about attending the meetings and accessing the June 14 
webcast are available at https://www.nist.gov/tpo/return-investment-public-forums.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Courtney Silverthorn, Deputy 
Director, Technology Partnerships Office, National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive MS 2201, Gaithersburg, MD 
20899, 301-975-4189, or by email to courtney.silverthorn@nist.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Federal government invests approximately $150 billion per year 
in R&D. Of this total, approximately one-third is invested at over 300 
Federal laboratories \2\ across the country and approximately two-
thirds is invested at universities and private sector R&D institutions. 
For the results of this investment to produce economic gain and 
maintain a strong national security innovation base, the results must 
be put to productive use through applied research, services to the 
public, and transfer to private companies to create new products and 
services.
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    \2\ Includes federally funded laboratories, i.e., government 
owned/government operated, government owned/contractor operated 
(GOCO), and federally-funded research and development centers 
(FFRDCs).
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    Federal technology transfer policies and procedures are governed by 
legislation, much of which dates to the 1980s. A compilation of Federal 
technology transfer legislation, including the Stevenson-Wydler 
Technology Innovation Act of 1980 and the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980 is 
available online from the Federal Laboratory Consortium.\3\
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    \3\ ``The Green Book: Federal Technology Transfer Legislation 
and Policy''. Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer, 
2013. Available at https://www.federallabs.org/learning-center/on-demand/reference-materials/federal-technology-transfer-legislation-and-policy.
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    Existing Federal technology transfer laws have served the Nation 
well over nearly four decades. These laws, which continue to support 
U.S. innovation, have been widely emulated by other countries. However, 
in an increasingly competitive environment, it is important to ask 
whether and how current laws, regulations, policies, and practices 
could more effectively promote technology transfer to productive uses, 
and, where appropriate, commercialization of federally developed 
technologies and Federal research capabilities, and also encourage 
public-private partnerships to reach their full potential to create 
value for the U.S. economy in the 21st Century. For America to maintain 
its position among the world's innovation leaders, it is essential that 
our technology transfer system functions effectively. NIST intends to 
engage broadly with private- and public-sector stakeholders to assess 
the ability of Federal technology transfer policies, practices, and 
efforts to meet current and future needs in a rapidly shifting 
technology marketplace, and to best serve U.S. competitiveness 
globally.
    In order to advance the President's Management Agenda to modernize 
government for the 21st century, including the associated Lab-to-Market 
CAP Goal in coordination with the White House's OSTP, NIST is 
initiating a Return on Investment (ROI) Initiative \4\ with the intent 
of conducting a comprehensive assessment of the Federal technology 
transfer system that will identify opportunities to improve Federal 
technology transfer efforts, policies, and practices. The goal of this 
effort is to, where appropriate, streamline and accelerate transfer of 
technology from Federal R&D investments to attract greater private-
sector investment for innovative products, processes, and services, as 
well as new businesses and industries that will create jobs, grow the 
economy, and enhance national security.
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    \4\ https://www.nist.gov/tpo/return-investment-roi-initiative.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    NIST is seeking broad input and participation from stakeholders in 
Federal R&D, intellectual property, and technology transfer to assist 
in identifying and prioritizing issues and proposed solutions. This 
assessment will address: (a) Core Federal technology transfer 
principles and practices that should be protected, and those which 
should be adapted or changed; (b) approaches to improve efficiency and 
reduce regulatory burdens for technology transfer to attract private 
sector investment in later-stage R&D, commercialization, and advanced 
manufacturing; (c) new partnering models and technology transfer 
mechanisms with the private sector, academia, other Federal agencies, 
state, and other public-sector entities to support technology 
development and maturation; (d) new approaches that will reduce or 
remove barriers, and enable accelerated technology transfer, with a 
focus on areas of strategic national importance; (e) better metrics and 
methods to evaluate the ROI outcomes and impacts arising from Federal 
R&D investment; and (f) new approaches to motivate significantly 
increased technology transfer outcomes from the Federal sector, 
universities, and research organizations.
    The systemic challenges to effective transfer of technology, 
knowledge, and capabilities from Federal R&D have been discussed in 
studies, some of which are highlighted on the ROI Initiative website: 
www.nist.gov/tpo/roi. These challenges include:
     High transaction costs and slow response times associated 
with negotiating intellectual property terms and indemnification 
provisions,
     Inconsistent interpretation of requirements and 
authorities by Federal agencies,
     Inconsistent practices across Federal agencies,
     Limitations to intellectual property rights such as (i) 
inability to copyright software and digital products developed by 
government operated laboratories and transfer copyright protection for 
software and digital products to benefit U.S. companies, (ii) 
difficulties to protecting trade secrets and know-how when Federal 
laboratories work in collaboration with U.S. companies, and (iii) 
industry concern about the scope of required government use licenses 
and whether and under what circumstances the government may exercise 
march-in rights, and
     Requiring Federal employees to leave government service to 
engage in entrepreneurship and spin-off of technology companies as well 
as Conflict of Interest ethics provisions that make it difficult for 
them to access the resources they need to be successful in developing 
and commercializing the technology.
    To address these challenges, and others identified through this RFI 
and associated Public Forums, the ROI Initiative will utilize a 
multipronged process in which NIST will consider all available 
approaches, including:
     Identifying agency policies and best practices to promote 
consistent interpretation of existing authorities,
     Promulgating regulations that provide consistent 
interpretation of authorities across Federal agencies, consistent with 
agency mission, and
     If appropriate, seeking legislation to promote effective 
technology transfer.

II. Public Meetings

    Four public meetings will be held as indicated in the DATES and 
ADDRESSES section. Requests to participate must be received via the 
meeting website at https://www.nist.gov/tpo/return-investment-public-forums by the dates noted for each meeting in the DATES section. Fifty 
(50) seats for each meeting

[[Page 19054]]

are available on a first-come, first-served basis. All public meetings 
will be recorded and transcribed for internal NIST use only.
    For participants attending the May 17 meeting at the USPTO Regional 
Office in San Jose, a government-issued photo ID is required for 
building access.
    For participants attending the June 14 meeting at the NIST 
Gaithersburg campus, please note that NIST can only accept a state-
issued driver's license or identification card for access to Federal 
facilities if such license or identification card is issued by a state 
that is compliant with the REAL ID Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-13), or by 
a state that has an extension for REAL ID compliance. NIST currently 
accepts other forms of Federal-issued identification in lieu of a 
state-issued driver's license. For detailed information please contact 
Mary Lou Norris at 301-975-2002 or visit: http://nist.gov/public_affairs/visitor/.
    To request accommodation of a disability, please contact the person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATON CONTACT, no later than seven (7) 
calendar days prior to the selected meeting to allow as much time as 
possible to process your request.

III. Request for Information

    Respondents are encouraged--but are not required--to respond to 
each question and to present their answers after each question. The 
following questions cover the major areas about which NIST seeks 
comment. Respondents may organize their submissions in response to this 
RFI in any manner. Responses may include estimates, which should be 
identified as such.
    All responses that comply with the requirements listed in the DATES 
and ADDRESSES sections of this RFI will be considered.
    NIST is interested in receiving responses to the following 
questions from the stakeholder community:
    (1) What are the core Federal technology transfer principles and 
practices that should be protected, and those which should be adapted 
or changed?
    (2) What are the issues that pose systemic challenges to the 
effective transfer of technology, knowledge, and capabilities resulting 
from Federal R&D? Please consider those identified in the RFI as well 
as others that may have inhibited collaborations with Federal 
laboratories, access to other federally funded R&D, or 
commercialization of technologies resulting from Federal R&D.
    (3) What is the proposed solution for each issue that poses a 
systemic challenge to the effective transfer of technology, knowledge, 
and capabilities resulting from Federal R&D? Please consider the 
approaches identified in the RFI.
    (4) What are other ways to significantly improve the transfer of 
technology, knowledge, and capabilities resulting from Federal R&D to 
benefit U.S. innovation and the economy? What changes would these 
proposed improvements require to Federal technology transfer practices, 
policies, regulations, and legislation?

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 3710(g); Department Organization Order 30-
2A.

Phillip A. Singerman,
Associate Director for Innovation and Industry Services.
[FR Doc. 2018-09182 Filed 4-30-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-13-P



                                             19052                              Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 84 / Tuesday, May 1, 2018 / Notices

                                             this notice of initiation by filing a notice              SUMMARY:    The Federal government                       A meeting will be held on May 31,
                                             of intent to participate. The required                    invests approximately $150 billion                    2018 from 9 a.m. to noon Central Time
                                             contents of the notice of intent to                       annually 1 in research and development                at the Hilton Chicago/Oak Lawn in Oak
                                             participate are set forth at 19 CFR                       (R&D). For the results of this investment             Lawn, IL. Requests to participate must
                                             351.218(d)(1)(ii). In accordance with                     to produce economic gain and maintain                 be received via the meeting website no
                                             Commerce’s regulations, if we do not                      a strong national security innovation                 later than May 29, 2018.
                                             receive a notice of intent to participate                 base, the results must be transferred to                 A meeting and simultaneous webcast
                                             from at least one domestic interested                     private companies to create new                       will be held on June 14, 2018 from 9
                                             party by the 15-day deadline, Commerce                    products and services. In order to                    a.m. to noon Eastern Time at the NIST
                                             will automatically revoke the order                       advance the President’s Management                    Campus in Gaithersburg, MD. Requests
                                             without further review.6                                  Agenda to modernize government for                    to participate must be received via the
                                                If we receive an order-specific notice                 the 21st century, including the                       meeting website no later than June 8,
                                             of intent to participate from a domestic                  associated Lab-to-Market cross-agency                 2018.
                                             interested party, Commerce’s                              priority (CAP) Goal in coordination with              ADDRESSES:
                                             regulations provide that all parties                      the White House Office of Science and                    For Comments:
                                             wishing to participate in a Sunset                        Technology Policy (OSTP), the National                   Responses can be submitted by either
                                             Review must file complete substantive                     Institute of Standards and Technology                 of the following methods:
                                             responses not later than 30 days after                    (NIST) is initiating an effort to refocus                • Agency Website: https://
                                             the date of publication in the Federal                    Federal technology transfer on sound                  www.nist.gov/tpo/roi-rfi-response.
                                             Register of this notice of initiation. The                business principles based on private                  Follow the instructions for sending
                                             required contents of a substantive                        investment. NIST requests information                 comments on the agency website.
                                             response, on an order-specific basis, are                 from the public regarding the current                    • Email: roi@nist.gov. Include ‘‘RFI
                                             set forth at 19 CFR 351.218(d)(3). Note                   state of Federal technology transfer and              Response: Federal Technology Transfer
                                             that certain information requirements                     the public’s ability to engage with                   Authorities and Processes’’ in the
                                             differ for respondent and domestic                        Federal laboratories and access federally             subject line of the message.
                                             parties. Also, note that Commerce’s                       funded R&D through collaborations,                       Instructions: Attachments will be
                                             information requirements are distinct                     licensing, and other mechanisms.                      accepted in plain text, Microsoft Word,
                                             from the Commission’s information                         Responses to this RFI will inform                     or Adobe PDF formats. Comments
                                             requirements. Consult Commerce’s                          NIST’s evaluation of Federal technology               containing references, studies, research,
                                             regulations for information regarding                     transfer practices, policies, regulations,            and other empirical data that are not
                                             Commerce’s conduct of Sunset Reviews.                     and/or laws that promote the transfer of              widely published should include copies
                                             Consult Commerce’s regulations at 19                      Federal technologies and the practical                or electronic links of the referenced
                                             CFR part 351 for definitions of terms                     application of those technologies,                    materials.
                                             and for other general information                         including through commercialization by                   All submissions, including
                                             concerning antidumping and                                the private sector. NIST will hold public             attachments and other supporting
                                             countervailing duty proceedings at                        meetings regarding the initiative and the             materials, will become part of the public
                                             Commerce.                                                 stakeholder engagement process at the                 record and subject to public disclosure.
                                                This notice of initiation is being                     times and locations indicated below.                  NIST reserves the right to publish
                                             published in accordance with section                      DATES:                                                comments publicly, unedited and in
                                             751(c) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.218(c).                                                                        their entirety. Sensitive personal
                                                                                                          For Comments:
                                               Dated: April 24, 2018.                                     Comments must be received by 5:00                  information, such as account numbers
                                             James Maeder,                                             p.m. Eastern time on July 30, 2018.                   or Social Security numbers, or names of
                                             Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for                  Written comments in response to the                   other individuals, should not be
                                             Antidumping and Countervailing Duty                       RFI should be submitted according to                  included. Submissions will not be
                                             Operations performing the duties of Deputy                the instructions in the ADDRESSES and                 edited to remove any identifying or
                                             Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and                   SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION sections                    contact information. Do not submit
                                             Countervailing Duty Operations.                                                                                 confidential business information, or
                                                                                                       below. Submissions received after that
                                             [FR Doc. 2018–09153 Filed 4–30–18; 8:45 am]                                                                     otherwise sensitive or protected
                                                                                                       date may not be considered.
                                             BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
                                                                                                          For Public Meetings/Webcast:                       information. Comments that contain
                                                                                                          A meeting will be held on May 17,                  profanity, vulgarity, threats, or other
                                                                                                       2018 from 9 a.m. to noon Pacific Time                 inappropriate language or content will
                                             DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                                                                          not be considered.
                                                                                                       at the Silicon Valley USPTO Regional
                                                                                                       Office in San Jose, CA. Requests to                      For Public Meetings/Webcast:
                                             National Institute of Standards and                                                                                A May 17, 2018 public meeting will
                                             Technology                                                participate must be received via the
                                                                                                       meeting website no later than May 15,                 be held in the Silicon Valley USPTO
                                             [Docket Number: 180220199–819–01]                         2018.                                                 Regional Office, California Room, 26 S.
                                                                                                                                                             Fourth Street, San Jose, CA.
                                             Request for Information Regarding                            A meeting will be held on May 21,
                                                                                                                                                                A May 21, 2018 public meeting will
                                             Federal Technology Transfer                               2018 from 9 a.m. to noon Mountain
                                                                                                                                                             be held in the Renaissance Denver
                                             Authorities and Processes                                 Time at the Renaissance Denver
                                                                                                                                                             Downtown City Center Hotel, Beauty
                                                                                                       Downtown City Center Hotel in Denver,
                                             AGENCY: National Institute of Standards                                                                         Ballroom, 918 17th Street, Denver, CO.
                                                                                                       CO. Requests to participate must be
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                                             and Technology, Department of                                                                                      A May 31, 2018 public meeting will
                                                                                                       received via the meeting website no
                                             Commerce.                                                                                                       be held in the Hilton Chicago/Oak
                                                                                                       later than May 17, 2018.
                                                                                                                                                             Lawn, Oak Room, 9333 S Cicero Ave,
                                             ACTION: Notice of public meetings;
                                                                                                                                                             Oak Lawn, IL.
                                             Request for Information (RFI).                              1 Analytical Perspectives, Budget of the United

                                                                                                       States Government, Fiscal Year 2019, Ch. 18.
                                                                                                                                                                A June 14, 2018 public meeting and
                                                                                                       Available at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/           simultaneous webcast will be held in
                                               6 See   19 CFR 351.218(d)(1)(iii).                      BUDGET-2019-PER/pdf/BUDGET-2019-PER.pdf.              Building 101, West Square on the NIST


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                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 84 / Tuesday, May 1, 2018 / Notices                                             19053

                                             Campus, 100 Bureau Drive,                               reach their full potential to create value            significantly increased technology
                                             Gaithersburg, MD.                                       for the U.S. economy in the 21st                      transfer outcomes from the Federal
                                               Details about attending the meetings                  Century. For America to maintain its                  sector, universities, and research
                                             and accessing the June 14 webcast are                   position among the world’s innovation                 organizations.
                                             available at https://www.nist.gov/tpo/                  leaders, it is essential that our                        The systemic challenges to effective
                                             return-investment-public-forums.                        technology transfer system functions                  transfer of technology, knowledge, and
                                             FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.                    effectively. NIST intends to engage                   capabilities from Federal R&D have been
                                             Courtney Silverthorn, Deputy Director,                  broadly with private- and public-sector               discussed in studies, some of which are
                                             Technology Partnerships Office,                         stakeholders to assess the ability of                 highlighted on the ROI Initiative
                                             National Institute of Standards and                     Federal technology transfer policies,                 website: www.nist.gov/tpo/roi. These
                                             Technology, 100 Bureau Drive MS 2201,                   practices, and efforts to meet current                challenges include:
                                             Gaithersburg, MD 20899, 301–975–4189,                   and future needs in a rapidly shifting                   • High transaction costs and slow
                                             or by email to courtney.silverthorn@                    technology marketplace, and to best                   response times associated with
                                             nist.gov.                                               serve U.S. competitiveness globally.                  negotiating intellectual property terms
                                                                                                        In order to advance the President’s                and indemnification provisions,
                                             SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                              Management Agenda to modernize                           • Inconsistent interpretation of
                                             I. Background                                           government for the 21st century,                      requirements and authorities by Federal
                                                                                                     including the associated Lab-to-Market                agencies,
                                                The Federal government invests
                                                                                                     CAP Goal in coordination with the                        • Inconsistent practices across
                                             approximately $150 billion per year in
                                                                                                     White House’s OSTP, NIST is initiating                Federal agencies,
                                             R&D. Of this total, approximately one-                                                                           • Limitations to intellectual property
                                                                                                     a Return on Investment (ROI) Initiative 4
                                             third is invested at over 300 Federal                                                                         rights such as (i) inability to copyright
                                                                                                     with the intent of conducting a
                                             laboratories 2 across the country and                                                                         software and digital products developed
                                                                                                     comprehensive assessment of the
                                             approximately two-thirds is invested at                 Federal technology transfer system that               by government operated laboratories
                                             universities and private sector R&D                     will identify opportunities to improve                and transfer copyright protection for
                                             institutions. For the results of this                   Federal technology transfer efforts,                  software and digital products to benefit
                                             investment to produce economic gain                     policies, and practices. The goal of this             U.S. companies, (ii) difficulties to
                                             and maintain a strong national security                 effort is to, where appropriate,                      protecting trade secrets and know-how
                                             innovation base, the results must be put                streamline and accelerate transfer of                 when Federal laboratories work in
                                             to productive use through applied                       technology from Federal R&D                           collaboration with U.S. companies, and
                                             research, services to the public, and                   investments to attract greater private-               (iii) industry concern about the scope of
                                             transfer to private companies to create                 sector investment for innovative                      required government use licenses and
                                             new products and services.                              products, processes, and services, as                 whether and under what circumstances
                                                Federal technology transfer policies                 well as new businesses and industries                 the government may exercise march-in
                                             and procedures are governed by                          that will create jobs, grow the economy,              rights, and
                                             legislation, much of which dates to the                 and enhance national security.                           • Requiring Federal employees to
                                             1980s. A compilation of Federal                            NIST is seeking broad input and                    leave government service to engage in
                                             technology transfer legislation,                        participation from stakeholders in                    entrepreneurship and spin-off of
                                             including the Stevenson-Wydler                          Federal R&D, intellectual property, and               technology companies as well as
                                             Technology Innovation Act of 1980 and                   technology transfer to assist in                      Conflict of Interest ethics provisions
                                             the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980 is available                  identifying and prioritizing issues and               that make it difficult for them to access
                                             online from the Federal Laboratory                      proposed solutions. This assessment                   the resources they need to be successful
                                             Consortium.3                                            will address: (a) Core Federal                        in developing and commercializing the
                                                Existing Federal technology transfer                 technology transfer principles and                    technology.
                                             laws have served the Nation well over                   practices that should be protected, and                  To address these challenges, and
                                             nearly four decades. These laws, which                  those which should be adapted or                      others identified through this RFI and
                                             continue to support U.S. innovation,                    changed; (b) approaches to improve                    associated Public Forums, the ROI
                                             have been widely emulated by other                      efficiency and reduce regulatory                      Initiative will utilize a multipronged
                                             countries. However, in an increasingly                  burdens for technology transfer to                    process in which NIST will consider all
                                             competitive environment, it is                          attract private sector investment in later-           available approaches, including:
                                             important to ask whether and how                        stage R&D, commercialization, and                        • Identifying agency policies and best
                                             current laws, regulations, policies, and                advanced manufacturing; (c) new                       practices to promote consistent
                                             practices could more effectively                        partnering models and technology                      interpretation of existing authorities,
                                             promote technology transfer to                          transfer mechanisms with the private                     • Promulgating regulations that
                                             productive uses, and, where                             sector, academia, other Federal                       provide consistent interpretation of
                                             appropriate, commercialization of                       agencies, state, and other public-sector              authorities across Federal agencies,
                                             federally developed technologies and                    entities to support technology                        consistent with agency mission, and
                                             Federal research capabilities, and also                 development and maturation; (d) new                      • If appropriate, seeking legislation to
                                             encourage public-private partnerships to                approaches that will reduce or remove                 promote effective technology transfer.
                                                                                                     barriers, and enable accelerated                      II. Public Meetings
                                               2 Includes federally funded laboratories, i.e.,

                                             government owned/government operated,
                                                                                                     technology transfer, with a focus on
                                                                                                     areas of strategic national importance;                  Four public meetings will be held as
                                             government owned/contractor operated (GOCO),
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                                             and federally-funded research and development           (e) better metrics and methods to                     indicated in the DATES and ADDRESSES
                                             centers (FFRDCs).                                       evaluate the ROI outcomes and impacts                 section. Requests to participate must be
                                               3 ‘‘The Green Book: Federal Technology Transfer
                                                                                                     arising from Federal R&D investment;                  received via the meeting website at
                                             Legislation and Policy’’. Federal Laboratory                                                                  https://www.nist.gov/tpo/return-
                                             Consortium for Technology Transfer, 2013.               and (f) new approaches to motivate
                                             Available at https://www.federallabs.org/learning-
                                                                                                                                                           investment-public-forums by the dates
                                             center/on-demand/reference-materials/federal-             4 https://www.nist.gov/tpo/return-investment-roi-   noted for each meeting in the DATES
                                             technology-transfer-legislation-and-policy.             initiative.                                           section. Fifty (50) seats for each meeting


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                                             19054                            Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 84 / Tuesday, May 1, 2018 / Notices

                                             are available on a first-come, first-served               (3) What is the proposed solution for               in a representative capacity. All
                                             basis. All public meetings will be                      each issue that poses a systemic                      members should have expertise in
                                             recorded and transcribed for internal                   challenge to the effective transfer of                remote sensing, space commerce or a
                                             NIST use only.                                          technology, knowledge, and capabilities               related field. Each candidate member
                                                For participants attending the May 17                resulting from Federal R&D? Please                    shall be recommended by the Assistant
                                             meeting at the USPTO Regional Office                    consider the approaches identified in                 Administrator and shall be appointed by
                                             in San Jose, a government-issued photo                  the RFI.                                              the Under Secretary for a term of two
                                             ID is required for building access.                       (4) What are other ways to                          years at the discretion of the Under
                                                For participants attending the June 14               significantly improve the transfer of                 Secretary.
                                             meeting at the NIST Gaithersburg                        technology, knowledge, and capabilities                  The Committee will function solely as
                                             campus, please note that NIST can only                  resulting from Federal R&D to benefit                 an advisory body, and in compliance
                                             accept a state-issued driver’s license or               U.S. innovation and the economy? What                 with provisions of the Federal Advisory
                                             identification card for access to Federal               changes would these proposed                          Committee Act. Copies of the
                                             facilities if such license or identification            improvements require to Federal                       Committee’s revised Charter have been
                                             card is issued by a state that is                       technology transfer practices, policies,              filed with the appropriate committees of
                                             compliant with the REAL ID Act of 2005                  regulations, and legislation?                         the Congress and with the Library of
                                             (Pub. L. 109–13), or by a state that has                  Authority: 15 U.S.C. 3710(g); Department            Congress.
                                             an extension for REAL ID compliance.                    Organization Order 30–2A.                                This renewal is in accordance with
                                             NIST currently accepts other forms of                                                                         the provisions of the Federal Advisory
                                             Federal-issued identification in lieu of a              Phillip A. Singerman,                                 Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App 2, and the
                                             state-issued driver’s license. For                      Associate Director for Innovation and                 General Services Administration (GSA)
                                             detailed information please contact                     Industry Services.                                    rule on Federal Advisory Committee
                                             Mary Lou Norris at 301–975–2002 or                      [FR Doc. 2018–09182 Filed 4–30–18; 8:45 am]           Management, 41 CFR part 101–6. The
                                             visit: http://nist.gov/public_affairs/                  BILLING CODE 3510–13–P                                Secretary made the determination after
                                             visitor/.                                                                                                     consultation with GSA,
                                                To request accommodation of a                                                                              Stephen M. Volz,
                                             disability, please contact the person                   DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                                                                                                                                                           Assistant Administrator for Satellite and
                                             listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATON                     National Oceanic and Atmospheric                      Information Services.
                                             CONTACT, no later than seven (7)
                                                                                                     Administration                                        [FR Doc. 2018–08994 Filed 4–30–18; 8:45 am]
                                             calendar days prior to the selected                                                                           BILLING CODE 3510–HR–P
                                             meeting to allow as much time as                        Renewal of the Advisory Committee on
                                             possible to process your request.                       Commercial Remote Sensing
                                             III. Request for Information                                                                                  BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL
                                                                                                     ACTION:   Notice.
                                                Respondents are encouraged—but are                                                                         PROTECTION
                                             not required—to respond to each                         SUMMARY:   The Secretary of Commerce
                                                                                                     has determined that the renewal of the                Credit Union Advisory Council Meeting
                                             question and to present their answers
                                             after each question. The following                      Advisory Committee on Commercial                      AGENCY:  Bureau of Consumer Financial
                                             questions cover the major areas about                   Remote Sensing (ACCRES) is in the                     Protection.
                                             which NIST seeks comment.                               public interest in connection with the                ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
                                             Respondents may organize their                          performance of duties imposed on the
                                             submissions in response to this RFI in                  Department by law. ACCRES was                         SUMMARY:   Under the Federal Advisory
                                             any manner. Responses may include                       renewed on March 8, 2018.                             Committee Act (FACA), this notice sets
                                             estimates, which should be identified as                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      forth the announcement of a public
                                             such.                                                   Samira Patel, Commercial Remote                       meeting of the Credit Union Advisory
                                                All responses that comply with the                   Sensing Regulatory Affairs Office,                    Council (CUAC or Council) of the
                                             requirements listed in the DATES and                    NOAA Satellite and Information                        Bureau of Consumer Financial
                                             ADDRESSES sections of this RFI will be                  Services, 1335 East-West Highway,                     Protection (Bureau). The notice also
                                             considered.                                             Room 8247, Silver Spring, Maryland                    describes the functions of the Council.
                                                NIST is interested in receiving                      20910; telephone (301) 713–7077, email                DATES: The meeting date is Thursday,
                                             responses to the following questions                    samira.patel@noaa.gov.                                May 17, 2018, from approximately 9:00
                                             from the stakeholder community:                         SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The                        a.m. to 3:00 p.m. eastern daylight time.
                                                (1) What are the core Federal                        Committee was first established in May                The CUAC Card, Payment, and Deposits
                                             technology transfer principles and                      2002, to advise the Under Secretary of                Markets Subcommittee, CUAC
                                             practices that should be protected, and                 Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere                    Consumer Lending Subcommittee, and
                                             those which should be adapted or                        on matters relating to the U.S.                       CUAC Mortgages and Small Business
                                             changed?                                                commercial remote-sensing industry                    Lending Markets Subcommittee
                                                (2) What are the issues that pose                    and NOAA’s activities to carry out the                meetings will also take place on May 17,
                                             systemic challenges to the effective                    responsibilities of the Department of                 2018.
                                             transfer of technology, knowledge, and                  Commerce set forth in the National and                ADDRESSES: The meeting location is the
                                             capabilities resulting from Federal R&D?                Commercial Space Programs Act of 2010                 Bureau of Consumer Financial
amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES




                                             Please consider those identified in the                 (The Act) Title 51 U.S.C. 60101 et seq.               Protection, 1700 G Street NW,
                                             RFI as well as others that may have                     (formally the Land Remote Sensing                     Washington, DC 20552.
                                             inhibited collaborations with Federal                   Policy Act of 1992 15 U.S.C. Secs. 5621–              FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                             laboratories, access to other federally                 5625).                                                Crystal Dully, Outreach and Engagement
                                             funded R&D, or commercialization of                        ACCRES will have a fairly balanced                 Associate, 202–435–9588, CFPB_
                                             technologies resulting from Federal                     membership consisting of                              CABandCouncilsEvents@cfpb.gov,
                                             R&D.                                                    approximately 9 to 20 members serving                 Consumer Advisory Board and Councils


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Document Created: 2018-05-01 00:23:52
Document Modified: 2018-05-01 00:23:52
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of public meetings; Request for Information (RFI).
DatesFor Comments:
ContactDr. Courtney Silverthorn, Deputy Director, Technology Partnerships Office, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive MS 2201, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, 301-975-4189, or by email to [email protected]
FR Citation83 FR 19052 

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