H.R. 1350 — DOE and NSF Interagency Research Act

This section provides the short title of the Act as the “DOE and NSF Interagency Research Act.”

This section establishes a Department of Energy and National Science Foundation cross-cutting research and development coordination program focused on joint mission requirements and priorities. It requires the Secretary of Energy and the Director of the National Science Foundation to coordinate through a memorandum of understanding or other interagency agreement that uses a competitive, merit-reviewed process open to Federal agencies, National Laboratories, institutions of higher education, nonprofit institutions, and other appropriate entities. This section authorizes collaborative research in eight focus areas: (1) basic plasma science and engineering; (2) fundamental biological and computational science and engineering, including computational neuroscience and neuromorphic computing, in collaboration with the program under 42 U.S.C. 18644; (3) modeling and simulation, machine learning, artificial intelligence, data assimilation, large-scale data analytics, predictive analysis, and advanced computational, storage, and networking capabilities for energy and climate applications; (4) quantum information sciences, including quantum computing and quantum network infrastructure, in collaboration with the programs under 15 U.S.C. 8853 and 8854; (5) energy and materials science and engineering, including artificial photosynthesis, plasma, solar fuels, and fusion, in collaboration with programs under 42 U.S.C. 18641, 18645, and 16313; (6) advanced manufacturing technologies, including efficient storage systems and alternatives to high-temperature processing, in collaboration with the program under 42 U.S.C. 16315; (7) microelectronics, including novel chip architectures, memory systems, and interconnects; and (8) advanced physics, including high energy and particle physics, accelerator research and development, and high-performance computational tools, in collaboration with the program under 42 U.S.C. 18641. This section also directs the agencies to promote collaboration, open community-based development, and data and information sharing by providing necessary access and secure transfer capabilities; support research infrastructure, including new facilities and equipment; and organize STEM education, training, and research initiatives, including internships, fellowships, experiential and project-based learning opportunities, and professional development for educators and researchers. It authorizes reimbursable agreements between the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and other entities, and collaboration with other Federal agencies, as appropriate. This section requires a report to Congress not later than 2 years after enactment detailing interagency coordination, opportunities to expand technical capabilities, collaborative research achievements, future mutually beneficial successes, and continuation of coordination activities. It also requires the activities to be carried out consistently with subtitle D of title VI of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 19231 et seq.).