The Association of American Universities is applauding bipartisan legislation that would let agencies dedicate some of their Small Business Innovative Research and Technology Transfer funds to creating proof-of-concept programs.
AAU says "universities, research institutes, and national laboratories would be able to apply to agencies’ proof of concept programs for funds to support the evaluation of the scientific or technical merit, and the commercial feasibility, of research-based technologies developed by their faculty and staff." Cosponsors are Reps. Chris Collins, R-N.Y., above, and Derek Kilmer, D-Wa. Whether this legislation is a good sign for bipartisan cooperation in a reauthorization of the America COMPETES Act is unclear. Recently, advocates for STEM education have come to think that the status quo -- i.e., no action on COMPETES -- is better than whatever is likely to emerge from the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee.
