Notice2023-07371
Activation Energy; DOE's National Laboratories as Catalysts of Regional Innovation; Extension of Comment Period
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
April 7, 2023
Issuing agencies
Energy Department
Abstract
The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science and the Office of Technology Transitions published a request for information (RFI) on January 27, 2023, inviting interested parties to provide input on place-based innovation opportunities that support the DOE mission. DOE received requests for an extension of the public comment period for an additional 30 days. DOE reviewed the requests and is granting a 30- day extension of the public comment period to allow comments to be submitted until April 28, 2023.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 67 (Friday, April 7, 2023)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 67 (Friday, April 7, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20871-20872]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-07371]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Activation Energy; DOE's National Laboratories as Catalysts of
Regional Innovation; Extension of Comment Period
AGENCY: Office of Science, Office of Technology Transitions, Department
of Energy.
ACTION: Request for information (RFI); extension of public comment
period.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science and the
Office of Technology Transitions published a request for information
(RFI) on January 27, 2023, inviting interested parties to provide input
on place-based innovation opportunities that support the DOE mission.
DOE received requests for an extension of the public comment period for
an additional 30 days. DOE reviewed the requests and is granting a 30-
day extension of the public comment period to allow comments to be
submitted until April 28, 2023.
DATES: The comment period for the RFI published on January 27, 2023 (88
FR 5323), is extended. Responses to this RFI must be received by April
28, 2023.
ADDRESSES: DOE is using the <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> system for the
submission and posting of public comments in this proceeding. All
comments in response to this RFI are therefore to be submitted
electronically through <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>, via the web form accessed
by following the ``Submit a Formal Comment'' link near the top right of
the Federal Register web page for this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information
may be submitted to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e5a68d8497898096cbb79096968a88848b8b8aa58d94cb818a80cb828a93"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6d2e050c1f01081e433f181e1e02000c0303022d051c43090208430a021b">[email protected]</span></a>, (202) 378-7815,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#67341214060909060f492f08100e021408092714040e020904024903080249000811"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bfeccaccded1d1ded791f7d0c8d6daccd0d1ffccdcd6dad1dcda91dbd0da91d8d0c9">[email protected]</span></a>, (202) 253-1997,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2f6a5d464401674e4b434e414b6f5c4c464a414c4a014b404a01484059"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cb8eb9a2a0e583aaafa7aaa5af8bb8a8a2aea5a8aee5afa4aee5aca4bd">[email protected]</span></a>, (240) 425, 8125, or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a3eec2d1c4c2d6db8deed6d1c2cfcae3cbd28dc7ccc68dc4ccd5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="256844574244505d0b68505744494c654d540b414a400b424a53">[email protected]</span></a>, (202) 586-3698.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DOE's Office of Science and Office of
Technology Transitions published an RFI in the Federal Register on
January 27, 2023, (87 FR 5323), inviting interested parties to provide
input on place-based innovation opportunities that support the DOE
mission. DOE received requests from DOE National Laboratories for an
extension of the public comment. DOE grants an extension to the comment
period from March 28, 2023, to April 28, 2023, to allow more time for
the Labs to engage with regional stakeholders and for the Labs and
stakeholders to submit full and comprehensive responses to the RFI.
Motivation
DOE is exploring opportunities to strengthen place-based innovation
activities leveraging the DOE National Laboratories and Sites.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ DOE Laboratories and sites are Ames Laboratory, Argonne
National Laboratory, Bettis and Knolls Atomic Power Laboratories,
Brookhaven National Laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Kansas
City National Security Campus, Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Los Alamos
National Laboratory, National Energy Technology Laboratory and
Albany Research Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Nevada
National Security Site, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Pacific
Northwest National Laboratory, Pantex Plant, Princeton Plasma
Physics Laboratory, Savannah River National Laboratory, Sandia
National Laboratory, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Thomas
Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, and Y-12 National Security
Complex.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Background
Federally funded research and development (R&D) has catalyzed
innovation that has driven economic growth in the form of new
businesses, more jobs, increased wages, higher standards of living, and
environmental sustainability. However, growth has been primarily
localized in certain United States (U.S.) metropolitan regions that
have become flourishing innovation ecosystems.\2\ Elements of a
thriving innovation ecosystem include, but are not limited to: \3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ Gruber, J., & Johnson, S. (2019). Jump-starting America: How
breakthrough science can revive economic growth and the American
dream; Atkinson, R., Muro, M., & Whiton, J. (2019). The Case for
Growth Centers. The Brookings Institution & Information Technology
and Innovation Foundation.
\3\ Kauffman F Bell-Masterson, Jordan and Stangler, Dane,
Measuring an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (March 2015). Available at
SSRN: <a href="https://ssrn.com/abstract=2580336">https://ssrn.com/abstract=2580336</a> or <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2580336">http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2580336</a>; Evolution of the Industrial Innovation
Ecosystem of Resource-Based Cities (RBCs): A Case Study of Shanxi
Province, China, Jun Yao, Huajing Li 1,*, Di Shang and Luyang Ding,
2021., <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/20/11350/pdf">https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/20/11350/pdf</a>; MIT's
Stakeholder Framework for Building and Accelerating Innovation
Ecosystems, Budden, P, Murray, F., 2019, <a href="https://innovation.mit.edu/assets/MIT-Stakeholder-Framework_Innovation-Ecosystems.pdf">https://innovation.mit.edu/assets/MIT-Stakeholder-Framework_Innovation-Ecosystems.pdf</a>; An MIT
Framework for Innovation Ecosystem Policy, Budden, P, Murray, F,
2018, <a href="https://innovation.mit.edu/assets/Framework-Ecosystem-Policy_Oct18.pdf">https://innovation.mit.edu/assets/Framework-Ecosystem-Policy_Oct18.pdf</a>; Kauffman Foundation, Universities and
Entrepreneurial Ecosystems, <a href="https://www.kauffmanfellows.org/journal_posts/universities-and-entrepreneurial-ecosystems-stanford-silicon-valley-success">https://www.kauffmanfellows.org/journal_posts/universities-and-entrepreneurial-ecosystems-stanford-silicon-valley-success</a>; ``What are the key components of an
entrepreneurial ecosystem in a developing economy? A longitudinal
empirical study on technology business incubators in China'',
Xiangfei Yuana, Haijing Haob, Chenghua Guan, Alex Pentland, <a href="https://arxiv.org/pdf/2103.08131">https://arxiv.org/pdf/2103.08131</a>.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<bullet> Talent: An educated and skilled workforce, as well as
training programs to create and sustain this talent.
<bullet> Infrastructure: For research, commercial, industrial, and
residential purposes--inclusive of physical spaces/facilities,
utilities, transportation (including quality roadways and ready access
to airports), and other features required for residential, industrial,
and commercial purposes.
<bullet> Technology: Accessible scientific and technical knowledge
throughout the research, development, demonstration, and deployment
(RDD&D) continuum for commercialization and manufacturing.
<bullet> Capital: Access to financial resources (i.e., venture
capital, private equity, angel investors, etc.) and technical resources
(i.e., scientific and manufacturing equipment).
<bullet> Social Capital: Local networking to incentivize and
support the existence, development, and growth of innovation programs
and companies.
<bullet> Policy: Local and regional policies and incentives that
support innovation-driven enterprises, economic development, and
planning within a regional innovation center.
<bullet> Collaboration with Industry: Mutually beneficial
partnerships between public and private sectors to facilitate the
exchange of knowledge, accelerate the commercialization of
technologies, promote workforce development, and increase awareness of
promising research, as well as provide directions for new research
needs.
<bullet> Community: Structure that supports the development,
accessibility, inclusivity, environmental sustainability, and
engagement with the local community in an equitable way.
Place-based innovation initiatives can be used to cultivate
innovation ecosystems in regions that have yet to realize benefits from
the innovation renaissance of the past few decades. Building on
existing research institutions, industrial infrastructure,
concentrations of workforce skills, and connections to regional
philanthropic and other civil society institutions, DOE can contribute
to supporting localized economic growth models which will promote new
regional innovation ecosystems. DOE seeks to stimulate innovation in
regions surrounding the National Laboratories and Sites by:
<bullet> Providing key RDD&D to accelerate commercialization of
breakthrough technologies;
<bullet> Driving development in the industrial and technology
sectors of the
[[Page 20872]]
future, such as innovations in advanced manufacturing, and supply
chains, among others;
<bullet> Fostering sustainable and equitable economic growth in
underinvested regions of the U.S.;
<bullet> Creating long-term high paying jobs in existing and new
industries;
<bullet> Facilitating engagement and partnership with local and
regional communities adjacent to DOE Laboratories and Sites; and
<bullet> Training and educating both the current and future
diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce.
Innovation ecosystems anchored around DOE National Laboratories and
Sites will directly support DOE's missions, including advancing new and
emerging clean energy technologies, combatting the effects of climate
change, developing technologies to support our nation's security,
cleaning up of legacy nuclear waste, and developing a technically
skilled workforce.
Purpose
DOE is seeking input from all stakeholders about opportunities for
place-based innovation activities that leverage research institutions--
particularly the National Laboratories and Sites--to catalyze
innovation ecosystems, contribute to DOE's mission in energy,
environment, and national security and ensure our nation's vibrant
economic future. The information received in response to this RFI will
inform, and be considered by, the DOE in program planning and
development. This is solely a request for information and not a Funding
Opportunity Announcement (FOA), prize, or other solicitation.
Request for Responses
The objective of this RFI is to identify both opportunities and
challenges for developing place-based innovation ecosystems anchored by
DOE National Laboratories and Sites. DOE is interested in hearing about
potential new activities, as well as ongoing activities that would
benefit from additional support. Information related, but not limited,
to the following questions is requested:
Part A--Regional Characteristics
<bullet> What makes your region competitive or unique for
innovation?
<bullet> What are your region's top three areas of technical
expertise or attributes that are relevant to DOE's missions?
<bullet> What untapped potential exists in your region?
<bullet> What are the top three barriers to maximizing/growing your
region's innovation ecosystem?
<bullet> What key areas of investment could be leveraged to realize
untapped opportunities in your region?
Part B--Place-Based Innovation Activity
B.1: Existing Activities: Describe the Existing Place-Based Innovation
Activity in Your Region
<bullet> How does the activity connect to the immediate region or
other specific location?
<bullet> How does your activity engage with local/regional partners
(e.g., Federal laboratories, industry, academia, financing/investment,
community organizations, local and tribal governments, etc.)?
<bullet> Are there any DOE National Laboratories or Sites currently
involved? If so, how?
<bullet> How does the activity contribute to one or more of the
aforementioned key elements of an innovation ecosystem?
<bullet> How does the activity foster belonging, accessibility,
justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion?
<bullet> What are the challenges for existing innovation activities
in your region?
<bullet> How was this innovation activity initiated/funded?
B.2: Potential Activities: Describe Potential New or Expanded Place-
Based Innovation Activities in Your Region
<bullet> How would the new or expanded activity connect to the
immediate region or other specific location?
<bullet> How would your new or expanded activity engage with local/
regional partners (e.g., Federal laboratories, industry, academia,
funding/investment, community organizations, local and tribal
governments, etc.)?
<bullet> How would the new or expanded activity contribute to one
or more of the aforementioned key elements of an innovation ecosystem?
<bullet> How would the new or expanded activity foster belonging,
accessibility, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion?
<bullet> What are the potential benefits of the new or expanded
activity for your region?
<bullet> What are the potential challenges for new innovation
activities in your region?
<bullet> What level of support would be required to facilitate the
new or expanded activity?
<bullet> What are potential sources of support for this expanded or
new activity?
Confidential Business Information. Pursuant to 10 CFR 1004.11, any
person submitting information that he or she believes to be
confidential and exempt by law from public disclosure should submit via
email two well-marked copies: one copy of the document marked
``confidential'' including all the information believed to be
confidential, and one copy of the document marked ``non-confidential''
with the information believed to be confidential deleted. DOE will make
its own determination about the confidential status of the information
and treat it according to its determination.
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of Energy was signed on April 3,
2023, by Dr. Geraldine L. Richmond, Under Secretary for Science and
Innovation, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of
Energy. The document with the original signature and date is maintained
by DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in compliance with
requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the undersigned DOE
Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to sign and submit
the document in electronic format for publication, as an official
document of the Department of Energy. This administrative process in no
way alters the legal effect of this document upon publication in the
Federal Register.
Signed in Washington, DC, on April 4, 2023.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2023-07371 Filed 4-6-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on April 7, 2023.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.