Sponsors (3)
The bill boosts federal support for cross-cutting R&D, workforce development, and open collaboration to accelerate advanced and clean-energy technologies, but it raises taxpayer costs, potential data/IP security risks, and the risk that smaller institutions lose competitiveness for funding.
Researchers at NSF, DOE labs, and universities gain new funding pathways and incentives for cross-cutting R&D across AI, quantum, energy, and advanced physics, increasing resources for high-impact research.
Middle-class families and energy consumers benefit from accelerated development of clean-energy and advanced materials technologies (e.g., artificial photosynthesis, solar fuels, fusion) that could lower energy costs and emissions over time.
Students and early-career researchers gain access to more internships, fellowships, and experiential STEM workforce opportunities that strengthen career pathways into science and technology.
Taxpayers may face higher federal spending if expanded joint R&D and infrastructure require additional appropriations, increasing budgetary pressure.
Scientists, small businesses, and startups face greater risk of sensitive data or intellectual property exposure from broader data sharing across agencies if governance and security are insufficient.
Small institutions, colleges, and firms may be disadvantaged as prioritizing large federal lab and university partnerships could make grant competition harder and shrink opportunities for smaller players.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires the Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary and the National Science Foundation (NSF) Director to run joint, cross-cutting research and development (R&D) activities aligned with both agencies' mission priorities. It mandates a coordinated interagency agreement with a competitive, merit-reviewed process open to federal agencies, national laboratories, universities, nonprofits, and other eligible entities, and it authorizes collaboration on specified science and technology focus areas, data sharing, infrastructure support, and STEM workforce programs. Also authorizes reimbursable agreements and collaboration with other federal agencies, and requires a report to specified congressional committees within two years describing coordination, accomplishments, future opportunities, and continuation plans. Activities must be consistent with existing provisions of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act.
Introduced February 13, 2025 by Haley Stevens · Last progress March 25, 2025