“To require the Director of the National Science Foundation to carry out a cloud laboratory network program, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section defines terms for purposes of the Act, including "(1) artificial intelligence," as defined in 15 U.S.C. 9401; "(2) authorized researcher," as an individual authorized to access cloud laboratory data; "(3) biological data," as information derived from biological systems; "(4) cloud laboratory," as a remotely programmable laboratory for continuous experiments; "(5) Director," as the Director of the National Science Foundation; "(6) phase II cloud laboratory," as one funded under sec. 3(c); "(7) phase III cloud laboratory," as one funded under sec. 3(d); and "(8) Under Secretary," as the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
This section establishes a pilot program, to be carried out by the National Science Foundation Director in consultation with the Secretary of Energy and NIST Under Secretary, for a cloud laboratory network that coordinates NSF-established cloud laboratories (i.e., remote-access facilities providing automated biotech experimentation to generate data for AI training and researcher access to instrumentation) with those independently operated by private industry, government labs, and academia. The network tracks biotech capabilities across labs, connects researchers to needed resources, and facilitates collaboration on best practices such as data standards and sharing. Not later than 360 days after enactment, the Director must (1) establish the network and (2) submit to Congress an implementation plan assessing existing U.S. cloud labs, outlining a national network and grant program (including site selection), coordination of existing labs, data storage and public access protocols, user access and payment models (with no- or low-cost access for nonproprietary work), sample IP agreements, industry/academia engagement, cybersecurity/biosecurity measures, and estimated program costs by year. Not later than 180 days after enactment, the Director must establish a cloud laboratory advisory board—including NSF and other federal employees, biotech academics, biosafety/ethics experts, and industry representatives—for consultation on the plan.