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Strategic Objective

Accelerate growth of innovation-intensive economic sectors by building public and private capacity to invent, improve, and commercialize new products and services. (NIST, USPTO, EDA)

Strategic Objective

Themes:

General Science, Space, and Technology

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Overview
Progress Update

Overview

Progress Update

During FY 2014, the Department of Commerce (DOC) expanded its efforts to accelerate the invention, improvement, and commercialization of new products and services. NIST made significant investments in expanding its capabilities in emerging basic and applied research areas to meet tomorrow’s challenges through growth in its intramural laboratory programs, development of next-generation measurement tools and standards, and new partnerships. NIST has likewise led interagency efforts to accelerate lab-to-market technology transfer and commercialization. Furthermore, the Patent Public Advisory Committee’s (PPAC) FY 2014 report to the President noted that the USPTO made “excellent progress in a number of areas, including Information Technology infrastructure initiatives, hiring of patent examiners and judges, and ongoing efforts to reduce patent pendency and the application backlog.”

The USPTO relies on its Patent Production Model to carry out multi-year planning and budgeting in the Patent organization. While the specific FY 2014 pendency and backlog reduction targets were not met, the USPTO is still on target to meet the overall goal targets of 10 months average first action pendency and 20 months average total pendency in FY 2019, and to achieve a working level inventory of unexamined patent applications in FY 2018. The Patent organization continues to work with the PPAC and stakeholders to refine quality metrics.

FY 2014 Accomplishments include:

NIST began projects to develop SI-traceable precision measurements at point of use in eight technology areas, including quantum-based electrical standards and mass/force/acceleration metrology. (Note: SI is an abbreviation for Système International d’Unités (International System of Units)).
NIST established the NIST Center of Excellence in Advanced Materials, the Center for Hierarchical Materials and Design (CHiMaD), a collaboration with Northwestern University and a diverse host of partners. The new center will focus on developing the next generation of computational tools, databases and experimental techniques to enable “Materials by Design,” a combination of physical theory, advanced computer models, vast materials properties databases, and complex computations to accelerate the design of a new material with specific properties for a particular application.
In support of the Lab-to-Market Cross-Agency Priority Goal, NIST led the development of reports of interagency technology transfer metrics developed in FY 2012.
NIST held entrepreneurship showcases at its Gaithersburg and Boulder campuses to promote entrepreneurship and innovation at NIST and to connect small businesses and entrepreneurs with Department of Commerce researchers and inventors.
EDA invested approximately $112M in 188 economic development grants (including infrastructure, technical assistance, and planning) to help communities and regions build the capacity for innovation to support entrepreneurial efforts and commercialization.
The USPTO made operational the Cooperative Patent Classification System (CPC). Substantial progress towards completing examiners’ transition to CPC was made in FY 2014, with full implementation expected by January 2015.
The USPTO made progress in implementing all seven of the USPTO-led White House Executive Actions to improve the U.S. patent system. For example, it expanded patent examiner technical training, hosted a series of roundtables with regard to America Invents Act (AIA) trials, established a patent litigation online toolkit, and held additional Pro Bono programs.
The USPTO reduced the backlog of unexamined patent applications by almost 16 percent since FY 2009.
The USPTO trained 4,960 foreign government officials on best practices to protect and enforce Intellectual Property (IP), promoting meaningful, effective, and balanced IP protection and enforcement worldwide.

Next Steps in FY 2015:

Q1: USPTO will discontinue United States Patent Classification of published patents to make way for full implementation of CPC.
Q1: NIST will launch an Entrepreneur in Residence program to provide resources to NIST researchers who may be interested in entrepreneurial opportunities, in order to accelerate technology transfer of NIST innovations.
Q1: EDA will complete internal and external prioritization efforts in order to ensure grants that support regional capacity for innovation are emphasized.
Q1: NIST will finalize the creation of the Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science (QuICS) with the University of Maryland and the National Security Agency/Central Security Service to advance research and education in quantum computer science and quantum information theory.
Q2: NIST will award new NIST Center of Excellence in Community Resilience to expand capabilities in this area of national priority.
Q2: USPTO will complete legal refresher training: Examining functional claim language; Written description for all technical fields; Enablement for all technical fields in order to make progress towards White House Executive Actions.
Q2-4: EDA will award and administer grants that promote innovation capacity building, and undertake quarterly status reviews.
Q3: NIST will award new NIST Center of Excellence in Forensic Science to expand capabilities in this area of national priority.
Q3: USPTO will engage other IP offices in order to expand the usage of CPC and explore future enhancements to the CPC system.
Q3: NIST will kick-off National Research Council technical assessments of selected NIST laboratories in order to evaluate the technical quality and merit of the laboratory programs relative to the state-of-the-art worldwide and the relevance of the programs to the current and future needs of stakeholders.
Q4: USPTO will complete FY 2015 patent examiner hiring in order to reduce patent backlog.

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Strategic Goals

Strategic Goal:

Foster a more innovative U.S. economy—one that is better at inventing, improving, and commercializing products and technologies that lead to higher productivity and competitiveness

Statement:

Foster a more innovative U.S. economy—one that is better at inventing, improving, and commercializing products and technologies that lead to higher productivity and competitiveness

Strategic Objectives

Grow a more productive, agile, and high-value manufacturing sector through partnerships and collaborations that accelerate technology development and commercialization (NIST)

Statement:

Grow a more productive, agile, and high-value manufacturing sector through partnerships and collaborations that accelerate technology development and commercialization (NIST)

Description:

The U.S. manufacturing sector continues to be a mainstay of U.S. economic productivity, generating $1.9 trillion in gross domestic product (GDP) in 2012 (11.9 percent of total U.S. GDP). Moreover, manufacturing has a larger multiplier effect than any other major economic activity—$1 spent in manufacturing generates $1.35 in additional economic activity. Despite the U.S. manufacturing sector’s apparent productivity, missed opportunities remain where the full economic and commercial value from investments in research are not realized.

The United States excels at basic science and invention. But the commercial and economic rewards that emerge from these accomplishments are primarily realized only after discovery—especially at the points of manufacturing scale-up and commercialization. This is particularly true for complex, cost-efficient, high-value-added products whose commercialization requires development and mastery of equally complex manufacturing processes.

As overall U.S. R&D efforts have begun to lag that of other nations, the composition of industrial R&D has shifted toward short-term research. These trends leave industry's long-term needs unmet and ultimately undermine the nation's competitiveness. The Department is ideally positioned to address these challenges through its unique convening power. It will bring together public-private partnerships that can produce cutting edge research. These partnerships with businesses will accelerate technology development and commercialization, and strengthen the nation’s position in the global competition for new products, new markets, and new jobs. In addition, NIST is the only research laboratory in the U.S. government specifically focused on enhancing industrial competitiveness, including a robust research portfolio concentrated on the technical challenges particularly associated with advanced manufacturing.

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Increase the capacity of U.S. regional economies to accelerate the production of value-added goods and services by providing services to and investments in businesses and communities. (NIST, EDA, MBDA, PTO)

Statement:

Increase the capacity of U.S. regional economies to accelerate the production of value-added goods and services by providing services to and investments in businesses and communities. (NIST, EDA, MBDA, PTO)

Description:

American communities must position themselves to compete in the new economy. However, communities with significant economic challenges may not have the knowledge or network needed to leverage their assets and identify opportunities. To understand the needs of producers and attract and expand investment, they need partners and expert guidance. The Department assists with strategic place-based investments that help create a productive industrial ecosystem. This support includes resources for infrastructure, planning, and technical assistance to strengthen the capacity for innovation in manufacturing. Technical assistance funding focuses on enhancing industry-required skills and identifying international supplier opportunities for small businesses.

The Department is dedicated to helping regional economies thrive and provides grants to state and local governments and non-profits in communities and regions suffering from economic distress. Technical and business assistance is also provided to smaller manufacturers through partnerships between federal and state governments and non-profit organizations. Some grants and services are specifically targeted to increasing the competitiveness of minority businesses. Through this multi-pronged approach, the Department is increasing the capacity of U.S. regional economies to produce value-added goods and services, increasing their competitiveness in the modern global economy.

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Strengthen the Nation’s digital economy by championing policies that will maximize the potential of the Internet, expanding broadband capacity, and enhancing cybersecurity to provide a robust environment for innovation. (NIST, NTIA, USPTO)

Statement:

Strengthen the Nation’s digital economy by championing policies that will maximize the potential of the Internet, expanding broadband capacity, and enhancing cybersecurity to provide a robust environment for innovation. (NIST, NTIA, USPTO)

Description:

The digital economy is the great engine of innovation and economic growth of the 21st century, and the Department is its principal defender and champion in the federal government. The Internet engine that powers this vast marketplace of electronic goods and services was developed within the federal government. But it has flourished in the private sector—where it should remain.

This extraordinary platform for innovation, growth, and social progress faces urgent policy questions that demand a thoughtful government response. How can personal information and intellectual property be protected online? How can the Nation’s critical digital infrastructure be defended from cyber-attacks? How can high-speed and affordable Internet access for all Americans be ensured? And, how can these goals be achieved while preserving, here and around the world, the fundamentally open nature of the Internet, free from unnecessary regulation?

The Department has essential responsibility and a central role in answering these questions. It advises the President on telecommunications issues and manages national spectrum resources needed for expanded high-speed broadband service. It develops U.S. policy on online intellectual property protection and enforcement. It oversees the development of voluntary industry cybersecurity and other online safety standards. It houses FirstNet which is charged with building a nationwide wireless broadband network for public safety users. And, the Department represents the United States on Internet governance issues before international multi-stakeholder bodies.

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FY 14-15 Priority Goal: Expand U.S. Broadband Infrastructure

Statement:

By September 30, 2015, the Department of Commerce will increase the nation's broadband infrastructure developed through the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) from 78,120 miles at the end of FY 2012 to 118,000 miles. When this goal is achieved, BTOP will connect 23,500 community anchor institution and will add 670,000 new household and business subscribers to broadband service.

Description:

Broadband access is essential to U.S. global competitiveness in the 21st century, driving job creation, promoting innovation, and expanding markets for American businesses. Broadband access also affords public safety agencies the opportunity for greater levels of effectiveness and interoperability.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) manages the implementation of BTOP to expand broadband service to communities in a cost-effective manner that maximizes impacts on economic growth, education, health care, and public safety. BTOP is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). After a rigorous application and review process, NTIA invested approximately $4 billion in 233 BTOP projects benefiting every state, territory, and the District of Columbia. Most of NTIA’s broadband grant investments, 123 grant awards totaling more than $3.48 billion, fund the construction or upgrade of approximately 110,000 miles of broadband networks and employ multiple technologies, including fiber-optics, wireless, and other technologies.

Network miles are a direct indicator of the nation’s growing broadband infrastructure, and represent both the increasing ability of underserved communities to contribute to America’s global competitiveness and the foundation for more affordable broadband services to homes and businesses. NTIA broadband grant investments will connect more than 24,000 community anchor institutions (e.g., libraries, hospitals, and schools), and add more than 650,000 new household and business subscribers to broadband service.

NTIA continues to monitor and provide guidance to grant recipients through technical assistance on refining methodologies for collecting data on new subscribers and accurately reporting that information. NTIA also collects reports from grant recipients regularly detailing performance and performs case reviews evaluating projects’ successes and challenges in meeting milestones. These activities help NTIA understand the progress made by recipients and inform the provision of appropriate corrective actions and enforcement measures, if needed.

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Accelerate the development of industry-led skills strategies that result in a productive workforce for employers and high-quality jobs for workers. (NIST, EDA, ESA, Census)

Statement:

Accelerate the development of industry-led skills strategies that result in a productive workforce for employers and high-quality jobs for workers. (NIST, EDA, ESA, Census)

Description:

A skilled and adaptable workforce is critical to U.S. global competitiveness and sustainable economic growth. An employer-aligned, (i.e., demand-driven) comprehensive approach to skills development is essential to helping businesses across all sectors better access skilled workers to grow, innovate, and be more productive. A skills strategy focused on industry-driven solutions helps address the difficulties many industries, particularly manufacturing, have in filling jobs requiring specific technical skills—even with many Americans still looking for work.

The Department is an honest broker for business and possesses the convening power, regional economic development expertise, and supply-chain-need analytical capability to highlight and address the workforce demands of growing industries. In addition to supporting a National Economic Council-led effort to align federal agency initiatives to better serve industry demands, the Department programs will to the creation of a strong pipeline of workers with in-demand skills.

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Accelerate growth of innovation-intensive economic sectors by building public and private capacity to invent, improve, and commercialize new products and services. (NIST, USPTO, EDA)

Statement:

Accelerate growth of innovation-intensive economic sectors by building public and private capacity to invent, improve, and commercialize new products and services. (NIST, USPTO, EDA)

Description:

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