Notice2026-06015
Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request; Grantee Reporting Requirements for the Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers (IUCRC) Program
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
March 27, 2026
Issuing agencies
National Science Foundation
Abstract
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to renew this collection. In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are providing opportunity for public comment on this action. After obtaining and considering public comment, NSF will prepare the submission requesting Office of Management and Budget (OMB) clearance of this collection for no longer than 3 years.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 59 (Friday, March 27, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 59 (Friday, March 27, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14881-14882]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-06015]
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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request;
Grantee Reporting Requirements for the Industry-University Cooperative
Research Centers (IUCRC) Program
AGENCY: National Science Foundation.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to
renew this collection. In accordance with the requirements of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are providing opportunity for
public comment on this action. After obtaining and considering public
comment, NSF will prepare the submission requesting Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) clearance of this collection for no longer
than 3 years.
DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by May 26, 2026
to be assured consideration. Comments received after that date will be
considered to the extent practicable. Send comments to address below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance
Officer, National Science Foundation, Randolph Building, 401 Dulaney
Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone (703) 292-7556; or send
email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9be8ebf7f2f6ebeff4dbf5e8fdb5fcf4ed"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4c3f3c2025213c38230c223f2a622b233a">[email protected]</span></a>. Individuals who use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay
Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339, which is accessible 24 hours a day, 7
days a week, 365 days a year (including Federal holidays).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title of Collection: Grantee Reporting Requirements for the
Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers (IUCRC) Program.
OMB Number: 3145-0088.
Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2026.
Type of Request: Revision to and extension of approval of an
information collection.
Proposed Project
The IUCRC program provides a structure for academic researchers to
conduct fundamental, pre-competitive research of shared interest to
industry and government organizations. These organizations pay
membership fees to a consortium so that they can collectively envision
and fund research, with at least 90% of Member funds allocated to the
direct costs of these shared research projects.
IUCRCs are formed around research areas of strategic interest to
U.S. industry. Industry is defined very broadly to include companies
(large and small), startups and non-profit organizations. Principal
Investigators form a Center around emerging research topics of current
research interest, in a pre-competitive space but with clear pathways
to applied research and commercial development. Industry partners join
at inception, as an existing Center grows, or they inspire the creation
of a new Center by recruiting university partners to leverage NSF
support. Government agencies participate in IUCRCs as Members or by
partnering directly with NSF at the strategic level.
Universities, academic researchers, and students benefit from IUCRC
participation through the research funding, the establishment and
growth of industry partnerships, and educational and career placement
opportunities for students. Industry Members benefit by accessing
knowledge, facilities, equipment, and intellectual property in a highly
cost-efficient model; leveraging Center research outcomes in their
future proprietary projects; interacting in an informal, collaborative
way with other private sector and government entities with shared
interests; and identifying and recruiting talent. NSF provides funding
to support Center administrative costs and a governance framework to
manage membership, operations, and evaluation.
Sites within Centers will be required to provide data to NSF and/or
its authorized representatives (contractors and/or grantees) annually--
after the award expires for their fiscal year of activity.
Information collected are both quantitative and descriptive; they
will provide cognizant Program Directors a means to monitor the
operational and financial states of the Centers and ensure that the
award is in good standing. These data will also allow NSF to assess the
Centers in terms of intellectual, broader, and commercial impacts that
are core to NSF's review criteria. Finally, in compliance with the
Evidence Act of 2019, information collected will be used in satisfying
congressional requests, and supporting the agency's policymaking and
reporting needs.
In addition to the agency's annual report requirement, Principal
Investigators (IUCRC Center and Site Directors) of the awards are
required to provide the following information:
Center-related Information:
<bullet> Center Data Reporting
[cir] A comprehensive annual survey collecting information on
structure, funding, membership, personnel, and outcomes of the Center
during a given reporting period. A Center must submit data for each
fiscal year no later than September 30 of each year of operation, as
well as after the award expires to describe its final year of activity.
<bullet> Certification of Membership
[[Page 14882]]
[cir] A list of members and membership fees collected by the Center
and certified by the respective university's Sponsored Research Office
(SRO), Total Program Income collected during the reporting period, In-
kind Contributions during the reporting period, Allocation and
Expenditures of each Site's research funds by project.
<bullet> Site Research Projects Summary
[cir] A list of all projects in which the Site participated,
including each project's goals; research tasks; key milestones,
metrics/deliverables; developing results or outcomes; project budgets;
and personnel.
<bullet> Assessment Coordinator Report
[cir] An independent assessment of the annual Center activities
(this report is done by an independent evaluator, and uploaded by the
Principal Investigator as part of the NSF annual reporting
requirement).
Logistical Information:
<bullet> IUCRC Directory
[cir] IUCRCs must provide accurate and current information for the
online IUCRC directory. The IUCRC program helps awardees to get their
information updated on the website.
Optional:
<bullet> IUCRC Impact Stories for Public Distribution
IUCRCs are highly encouraged to submit information on their
emerging research highlights and significant breakthrough stories to
NSF to showcase their impact to the public and industry (see <a href="https://iucrc.nsf.gov/centers/achievements/">https://iucrc.nsf.gov/centers/achievements/</a>) including new products, technology
creation and/or enhancements, intellectual property of significant
commercial relevance, and major improvements in cost-savings,
efficiency, sustainability, productivity, and job growth.
Not only do these data provide valuable information on program
activities, products, outcomes, and impact, they also help to paint a
detailed longitudinal view of the program, provide insights for
benchmarking individual Center performance, advancing industry-
university engagement approaches, strengthening future workforce, and
contributing to the Nation's research and technology ecosystem.
Use of the Information: The information collected is for internal
use by NSF, sharing with the U.S. public, responding to congressional
requests, and for program evaluation and assessment. Survey data is
collected and published at <a href="https://iucrcstats.org">https://iucrcstats.org</a>, made possible
through NSF grant award 2410788.
Estimate Burden on the Public: Estimated at 16 hours per award for
230 sites for a total of 3,680 hours (per year).
Respondents: IUCRC Awardees (Academic Institutions).
Estimated Number of Respondents: One from each IUCRC site
(estimated: 230 active sites).
Comments: Comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of
the functions of the Agency, including whether the information shall
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of
the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information on
respondents, including through the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information technology; and (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.
Dated: March 25, 2026.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2026-06015 Filed 3-26-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P
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