Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request, 13674-13675 [2011-5801]

Agencies

• NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 49 (Monday, March 14, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13674-13675]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-5801]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has submitted the 
following information collection requirement to OMB for review and 
clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. 
This is the second notice for public comment; the first was published 
in the Federal Register at 75 FR 8818. NSF is forwarding the proposed 
renewal submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
clearance simultaneously with the publication of this second notice. 
The full submission may be found at: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
    Comments: Comments regarding (a) Whether the collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including 
the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be 
collected; or (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology should 
be addressed to: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB, 
Attention: Desk Officer for National Science Foundation, 725 17th 
Street, NW., Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, and to Suzanne H. 
Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 
Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, Arlington, Virginia 22230 or send e-mail 
to splimpto@nsf.gov. Comments regarding these information collections 
are best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days 
of this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by 
calling 703-292-7556.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton at 703-292-7556 or 
send e-mail to splimpto@nsf.gov. Individuals who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 
p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.
    NSF may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless 
the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control 
number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to 
the collection of information that such persons are not required to 
respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently 
valid OMB control number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title of Collection: Grantee Reporting Requirements for the 
Industry University Cooperative Research Centers Program (I/UCRC).
    OMB Number: 3145-0088.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to reinstate an 
information collection.

Abstract

Proposed Project

    The Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (I/UCRC) 
Program was initiated in 1973 to develop long-term partnerships among 
industry, academe and government. The National Science Foundation 
invests in these partnerships to promote research programs of mutual 
interest, contribute to the Nation's research infrastructure base and 
enhance the intellectual capacity of the engineering or science 
workforce through the integration of research and education. As 
appropriate, NSF encourages international collaborations that advance 
these goals within the global context.
    The I/UCRC program seeks to achieve this by:
    1. Contributing to the nation's research enterprise by developing 
long-term partnerships among industry, academe, and government;
    2. Leveraging NSF funds with industry to support graduate students 
performing industrially relevant research; and
    3. Expanding the innovation capacity of our nation's competitive 
workforce through partnerships between industries and universities.
    4. Encouraging the nation's research enterprise to remain 
competitive through active engagement with academic and industrial 
leaders throughout the world.

    The centers are catalyzed by a small investment from NSF and they 
are primarily supported by other private and public sector center 
members, with NSF taking a supporting role in the development and 
evolution of the I/UCRC. The I/UCRC program initially offers five-year 
(Phase I) continuing awards. This five-year period of support allows 
for the development of a strong partnership between the academic 
researchers and their industrial and government members. After five 
years, centers that continue to meet the I/UCRC program requirements 
may request support for a second five-year (Phase II) period. These 
awards allow centers to continue to grow and diversify their non-NSF 
memberships during their Phase II period. After ten years, a Phase III 
award provides a third five-year award for centers that

[[Page 13675]]

demonstrate their viability, sustainability, and which have had a 
significant impact on industry research as measured through annual 
reports, site visits, and adherence to I/UCRC requirements. Centers are 
expected to be fully supported by industry, other Federal agencies, and 
State and local government partners after fifteen years as an I/UCRC.
    Centers will be required to provide data to NSF and its authorized 
representatives (contractors or grantees). These data will be used for 
NSF internal reports, historical data, assessing program impact and 
recommending changes to strengthen the program, as well as for 
strengthening the program and to ensure the program remains responsive 
to a changing environment in order to secure future funding for 
continued I/UCRC program maintenance and growth. Updates to the I/UCRC 
database of performance indicators will be required annually. Centers 
will be responsible for submitting the following information after the 
award expires for their fiscal year of activity. The indicators are 
both quantitative and descriptive.

 Quantitative information from the most recently completed 
fiscal year such as:
    [cir] Number and diversity of students, faculty, and industrial 
numbers involved in the center
    [cir] Degrees granted to students involved in center activities
    [cir] Amounts and sources of income to the center, and
    [cir] Lists of patents, licenses, and publications created
 Operating budget and total funding:
    [cir] Total funding
    [cir] NSF I/UCRC funding received
    [cir] Other NSF funding received
    [cir] Additional support broken down by Industry, State, 
University, Other Federal, Non-Federal and other support
 Capital and in-kind support:
    [cir] Equipment
    [cir] Facilities
    [cir] Personnel
    [cir] Software
    [cir] Other support
 Human resources:
    [cir] Researchers (number of faculty scientists and engineers, 
number of non-faculty scientists and engineers)
    [cir] Students (number of graduates, number of undergraduates)
    [cir] Administration, number of full and part time professional and 
clerical staff
    [cir] Information about broadening participation on the above with 
plans to increase broadening participation, if necessary
 Center director descriptors:
    [cir] Position and rank of director
    [cir] Status of tenure
    [cir] Name and position of the person to whom the center director 
reports
    [cir] Estimate of the percent of time the director devotes to 
center administration, other administration, research, teaching, other
 Center outcomes:
    [cir] Students receiving degrees and type degree earned
    [cir] Students hired by industry by type of degree
    [cir] Publications
  Number with center research
  Number with Industrial Advisory
 Board Members
  Number of presentations
 Intellectual property events:
    [cir] Invention disclosures
    [cir] Patent applications
    [cir] Software copyrights
    [cir] Patents granted and derived or both
    [cir] Licensing agreements
    [cir] Royalties realized

    I/UCRCs will also include evaluation conducted by independent 
evaluators who cannot be from the department(s) with the institution(s) 
receiving funding for the I/UCRC award. The center evaluator will be 
responsible for:

[cir] Preparing an annual report of center activities with respect to 
industrial collaboration
[cir] Conducting a survey of all center participants to probe the 
participant satisfaction with center activities
[cir] Compiling a set of quantitative indicators determined by NSF to 
analyze the management and operation of the center
[cir] Participating in I/UCRC center and informational meetings
[cir] Reporting to NSF on the center's status using a checklist 
provided by NSF to help determine if the center is adhering to the 
IUCRC policy and guidelines
[cir] Bi-annual reporting to NSF
[cir] Reporting to NSF within a month of each Industrial Advisory Board 
meeting on the top research highlights, technology transfer, patents, 
and major discoveries that demonstrate successful investments
[cir] Performing exit interviews to determine why members chose to 
withdraw from the center
[cir] Participating in continuous quality process improvement by 
providing information to the NSF I/UCRC program

    Use of the Information: The data collected will be used for NSF 
internal reports, historical data, and for securing future funding for 
continued I/UCRC program maintenance and growth.
    Estimate of Burden: 150 hours per center (160 sites) for fifty-six 
centers for a total of 8400 hours.
    Respondents: Industry, academic institutions; non-profit 
institutions; government.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Report: One from each of the 160 
sites.

    Dated: March 3, 2011.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2011-5801 Filed 3-11-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P