Notice2022-11844
Request for Information to Make Access to the Innovation Ecosystem More Inclusive and Equitable
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
June 3, 2022
Issuing agencies
Executive Office of the President
Abstract
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), on behalf of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Lab-to-Market (L2M) Subcommittee, seeks information to improve inclusive and equitable access to Federal programs and resources by broadly engaging stakeholders in the U.S. innovation ecosystem. The public input provided in response to this RFI will inform OSTP and NSTC on work with Federal agencies and other stakeholders to improve existing programs and/or develop new programs to improve inclusive and equitable access in the Federally-funded research and development- driven sector.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 107 (Friday, June 3, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 107 (Friday, June 3, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33786-33787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-11844]
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EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
Request for Information to Make Access to the Innovation
Ecosystem More Inclusive and Equitable
AGENCY: White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).
ACTION: Notice of Request for Information (RFI).
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SUMMARY: The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
(OSTP), on behalf of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC)
Lab-to-Market (L2M) Subcommittee, seeks information to improve
inclusive and equitable access to Federal programs and resources by
broadly engaging stakeholders in the U.S. innovation ecosystem. The
public input provided in response to this RFI will inform OSTP and NSTC
on work with Federal agencies and other stakeholders to improve
existing programs and/or develop new programs to improve inclusive and
equitable access in the Federally-funded research and development-
driven sector.
DATES: Interested persons and organizations are invited to submit
responses on or before 5:00 p.m. ET on July 5, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Responses should be submitted electronically to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bcf0dddec8d3f1ddced7d9c8eefaf5fcd3cfc8cc92d9d3cc92dbd3ca"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a4e8c5c6d0cbe9c5d6cfc1d0f6e2ede4cbd7d0d48ac1cbd48ac3cbd2">[email protected]</span></a> and include ``L2M RFI Response'' in the
subject line of the email. Due to time constraints, mailed paper
submissions will not be accepted, and electronic submissions received
after the deadline cannot be ensured to be incorporated or taken into
consideration.
Instructions: Response to this RFI is voluntary. Each responding
entity (individual or organization) is requested to submit only one
response. Respondents need not reply to all questions listed. Responses
must not exceed 6 pages in 12 point or larger font, with a page number
provided on each page. Responses should include the name of the
person(s) or organization(s) filing the comment, as well as the
respondent type (e.g., academic institution, advocacy group,
professional society, community-based organization, industry, trainee/
student, member of the public, government, other). Respondent's role in
the organization may also be provided (e.g., researcher, faculty,
student, administrator, program manager, journalist) on a voluntary
basis. Comments containing references, studies, research, and other
empirical data that are not widely published should include copies or
electronic links of the referenced materials. Please be aware that
comments submitted in response to this RFI, including the submitter's
identification (as noted above), may be posted on OSTP's website or
otherwise released publicly. OSTP, therefore, requests that no business
proprietary information, copyrighted information, or personally
identifiable information be submitted in response to this RFI.
In accordance with FAR 15.202(3), responses to this notice are not
offers and cannot be accepted by the Federal Government to form a
binding contract. Additionally, those submitting responses are solely
responsible for all expenses associated with response preparation.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information, please
direct questions to Kylie Gaskins at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#97dbf6f5e3f8daf6e5fcf2e3c5d1ded7f8e4e3e7b9f2f8e7b9f0f8e1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="04486566706b4965766f617056424d446b7770742a616b742a636b72">[email protected]</span></a> or
202-456-4444.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Our nation's people are rich with diverse
experiences. However, there is tremendous untapped science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) innovative potential throughout the
nation. Demographic and socioeconomic groups in every geographic region
of the country are full of talent that should have access to Federal
programs and resources that afford them opportunities to contribute to
the nation's innovation enterprise. There is ample evidence that our
nation's potential in the arenas of innovation and entrepreneurship can
be enhanced by engagement with the untapped talent of people who belong
to groups that have historically been and are currently
underrepresented.
Through this RFI, the L2M Subcommittee seeks input from the public
to identify and better understand: (1) Barriers that prevent innovators
from underrepresented groups or underserved communities from
participating in the innovation ecosystem; (2) Recommendations of
methods to include and meet the specific needs of innovators from
underrepresented backgrounds and communities to increase their
participation in the innovation ecosystem; and (3) Examples of
government programs or initiatives which have seen success in
supporting
[[Page 33787]]
innovators from underrepresented backgrounds.
For this RFI, examples of Federal programs and resources to support
the innovation ecosystem include STEM education programs, Small
Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology
Transfer (STTR) program participation, entrepreneurial training for
researchers (e.g., the Innovation Corps I-Corps\TM\ program),
collaboration with Federal laboratories, commercialization funding, and
other phases of the research, development, demonstration, and
deployment (RDD&D) continuum.
Background: The NSTC L2M Subcommittee was established to strengthen
the nation's ability to transition Federally-funded innovations from
the laboratory to the marketplace. One strategy to accomplish this aim
is to enhance participation in the innovation ecosystem. Innovation
ecosystem describes the complex community of participants and resources
needed to develop and commercialize technology. This ecosystem includes
the people (e.g., students, faculty, industry researchers, investors)
that make up the institutional entities (e.g., universities,
businesses, funding agencies, venture capital firms, state and local
economic development organizations, entrepreneur support
organizations), material resources (e.g., funding, equipment,
facilities), and the relationships among these interconnected actors.
Innovation ecosystems may operate at different geographic levels (e.g.,
city, regional, national) and within multiple sectors (e.g., health,
energy, agriculture).
Entrepreneurs may lack knowledge about these resources and have
difficulty navigating them, which poses significant barriers to
participation. Ensuring that access to resources and capital are
available to all Americans as well as ensuring the benefits of
entrepreneurship are accessible across the nation are critical in
creating a robust and dynamic workforce with inclusive growth.
Information Requested
OSTP seeks responses to the following questions to improve
inclusive and equitable access for our nation's diverse pool of
innovators and emerging entrepreneurs in Federal science and technology
programs. Respondents may provide information for one or as many topics
below as they choose. In your response, please indicate your role in
the innovation ecosystem (e.g., entrepreneur, investor, ecosystem
connector, researcher in academia, state economic development
representative).
Executive Order 13985 defines underserved communities as
populations sharing a particular characteristic that have been
systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in aspects of
economic, social, and civic life.
1. a. In your experience, what are barriers to participation in the
innovation ecosystem?
b. Do barriers exist that are unique to innovators from specific
underrepresented backgrounds or underserved communities? If so, what
are those barriers?
c. How can the Federal government identify the specific barriers,
problems, or issues faced by innovators and emerging entrepreneurs from
underrepresented backgrounds or underserved communities as they seek to
engage with Federal programs and services?
2. How can the Federal government increase participation in the
innovation ecosystem by innovators from backgrounds and communities
underrepresented in the current ecosystem? In your response, please
provide your definition of ``underrepresented'' or ``underserved''.
3. How can the Federal government meet the specific needs (e.g.,
training, support, other) of innovators and emerging entrepreneurs from
backgrounds and communities underrepresented in the innovation
ecosystem by either improving existing government programs or
initiatives, or by offering new government programs or initiatives?
4. Are there examples of programs that have seen success in
supporting innovators from underrepresented backgrounds and underserved
communities in the innovation ecosystem? What are the critical success
factors of these programs?
Dated: May 27, 2022.
Stacy Murphy,
Operations Manager.
[FR Doc. 2022-11844 Filed 6-2-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3270-F1-P
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