Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 94 Part 2.djvu/1033

 PUBLIC LAW 96-480—OCT. 21, 1980

Public Law 96- -480 96th Congress

94 STAT. 2311

An Act

To promote United States technological innovation for the achievement of national economic, environmental, and social goals, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the "Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980". SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds and declares that: (1) Technology and industrial innovation are central to the economic, environmental, and social well-being of citizens of the United States. (2) Technology and industrial innovation offer an improved standard of living, increased public and private sector productivity, creation of new industries and employment opportunities, improved public services and enhanced competitiveness of United States products in world markets. (3) Many new discoveries and advances in science occur in universities and Federal laboratories, while the application of this new knowledge to commercial and useful public purposes depends largely upon actions by business and labor. Cooperation among academia, Federal laboratories, labor, and industry, in such forms as technology transfer, personnel exchange, joint research projects, and others, should be renewed, expanded, and strengthened. (4) Small businesses have performed an important role in advancing industrial and technological innovation. (5) Industrial and technological innovation in the United States may be lagging when compared to historical patterns and other industrialized nations. (6) Increased industrial and technological innovation would reduce trade deficits, stabilize the dollar, increase productivity gains, increase employment, and stabilize prices. (7) Government antitrust, economic, trade, patent, procurement, regulatory, research and development, and tax policies have significant impacts upon industrial innovation and development of technology, but there is insufficient knowledge of their effects in particular sectors of the economy. (8) No comprehensive national policy exists to enhance technological innovation for commercial and public purposes. There is a need for such a policy, including a strong national policy supporting domestic technology transfer and utilization of the science and technology resources of the Federal Government. (9) It is in the national interest to promote the adaptation of technological innovations to State and local government uses. Technological innovations can improve services, reduce their costs, and increase productivity in State and local governments. (10) The Federal laboratories and other performers of federally funded research and development frequently provide scientific

Oct. 21, 1980 [S. 1250] StevensonWydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980. 15 USC 3701 note. 15 USC 3701.

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