U.S Code last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024
All TitlesTitle 15Chapter 63
§ 3722.
Regional innovation program
(a)
Definitions
In this section:
(1)
Eligible recipient
The term “eligible recipient” means—
(A)
a State;
(B)
an Indian tribe;
(C)
a city or other political subdivision of a State;
(D)
an entity that—
(i)
is a nonprofit organization, an institution of higher education, a public-private partnership, a science or research park, a Federal laboratory, a venture development organization, or an economic development organization or similar entity that is focused primarily on improving science, technology, innovation, or entrepreneurship; and
(ii)
has an application submitted under subsection (c)(4) that is supported by a State or a political subdivision of a State; or
(E)
a consortium of any of the entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (D).
(2)
Regional innovation initiative
The term “regional innovation initiative” means a geographically-bounded public or nonprofit activity or program to address issues in the local innovation systems in order to—
(A)
increase the success of innovation-driven industry;
(B)
strengthen the competitiveness of industry through new product innovation and new technology adoption;
(C)
improve the pace of market readiness and overall commercialization of innovative research;
(D)
enhance the overall innovation capacity and long-term resilience of the region;
(E)
leverage the region’s unique competitive strengths to stimulate innovation; and
(F)
increase the number of full-time equivalent employment opportunities within innovation-based business ventures in the geographic region.
(3)
State
(4)
Venture development organization
(b)
Establishment
(c)
Regional innovation grants
(1)
Authorization of grants
(2)
Permissible activities
A grant awarded under this subsection shall be used for multiple activities determined appropriate by the Secretary, including—
(A)
planning, technical assistance, and communication among participants of a regional innovation initiative to improve the connectedness and strategic orientation of the regional innovation initiative;
(B)
attracting additional participants to a regional innovation initiative;
(C)
increasing the availability and investment of private and philanthropic financing that supports innovation-based business ventures; and
(D)
facilitating commercialization of products, processes, and services, including through demonstration, deployment, technology transfer, and entrepreneurial activities.
(3)
Restricted activities
Grants awarded under this subsection may not be used to pay for—
(A)
costs related to the recruitment, inducement, or associated financial or tangible incentives that might be offered to relocate an existing business from a geographic area to another geographic area; or
(B)
costs associated with offsetting revenues forgone by 1 or more taxing authorities through tax incentives, tax increment financing, special improvement districts, tax abatements for private development within designated zones or geographic areas, or other reduction in revenues resulting from tax credits affecting the geographic region of the eligible recipients.
(4)
Applications
(A)
In general
(B)
Components
Each application submitted under subparagraph (A) shall—
(i)
describe the regional innovation initiative;
(ii)
indicate whether the regional innovation initiative is supported by the private sector, State and local governments, and other relevant stakeholders;
(iii)
identify what activities the regional innovation initiative will undertake;
(iv)
describe the expected outcomes of the regional innovation initiative and the metrics the eligible recipient will use to assess progress toward those outcomes;
(v)
indicate whether the participants in the regional innovation initiative have access to, or contribute to, a well-trained workforce and other innovation assets that are critical to the successful outcomes specified in the application;
(vi)
indicate whether the participants in the regional innovation initiative are capable of attracting additional funds from non-Federal sources; and
(vii)
if appropriate for the activities proposed in the application, analyze the likelihood that the participants in the regional innovation initiative will be able to sustain activities after grant funds received under this subsection have been expended.
(C)
Feedback
(D)
Special considerations
The Secretary shall give special consideration to—
(i)
applications proposing to include workforce or training related activities in their regional innovation initiative from eligible recipients who agree to collaborate with local workforce investment area boards; and
(ii)
applications from regions that contain communities negatively impacted by trade.
(5)
Cost share
(6)
Outreach to rural communities
(7)
Geographic distribution
(8)
Funding
(d)
Regional innovation research and information program
(1)
In general
As part of the program established pursuant to subsection (b), the Secretary shall establish a regional innovation research and information program—
(A)
to gather, analyze, and disseminate information on best practices for regional innovation initiatives, including information relating to how innovation, productivity, and economic development can be maximized through such strategies;
(B)
to provide technical assistance, including through the development of technical assistance guides, for the development and implementation of regional innovation initiatives;
(C)
to support the development of relevant metrics and measurement standards to evaluate regional innovation initiatives, including the extent to which such strategies stimulate innovation, productivity, and economic development; and
(D)
to collect and make available data on regional innovation initiatives in the United States, including data on—
(i)
the size, specialization, and competitiveness of regional innovation initiatives;
(ii)
the regional domestic product contribution, total jobs and earnings by key occupations, establishment size, nature of specialization, patents, Federal research and development spending, and other relevant information for regional innovation initiatives; and
(iii)
supply chain product and service flows within and between regional innovation initiatives.
(2)
Research grants
(3)
Dissemination of information
(4)
Regional innovation grant program
(e)
Interagency coordination
(1)
In general
(2)
Collaboration
(A)
In general
(B)
Small businesses
(f)
Evaluation
(1)
In general
(2)
Requirements
The evaluation conducted under paragraph (1) shall include—
(A)
an assessment of whether the program is achieving its goals;
(B)
the program’s efficacy in providing awards to geographically diverse entities;
(C)
any recommendations for how the program may be improved; and
(D)
a recommendation as to whether the program should be continued or terminated.
(g)
Reporting requirement
(h)
Funding
(Pub. L. 96–480, § 27, as added Pub. L. 111–358, title VI, § 603, Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 4030; amended Pub. L. 113–235, div. B, title VII, § 705, Dec. 16, 2014, 128 Stat. 2230; Pub. L. 116–92, div. A, title XVII, § 1742, Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1837.)
cite as: 15 USC 3722
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