DOE and NSF Interagency Research Act

The bill would require the Secretary of Energy and the Director of the National Science Foundation to carry out joint, cross-cutting research and development activities and to memorialize that partnership in a formal memorandum of understanding or other interagency agreement. The MOU would have to use a competitive, merit-reviewed process open to federal agencies, national laboratories, universities, nonprofit institutions, and other entities. Eight broad research focus areas are listed, including basic plasma science, biological and computational science, artificial intelligence and machine learning, quantum information sciences, energy and materials science, advanced manufacturing, microelectronics, and advanced physics. Beyond research, the agencies could promote multi-party data sharing, support new research infrastructure, and organize STEM education and workforce programs such as internships, fellowships, and professional development for educators.

The bill would not itself appropriate money or set specific funding levels; all activities would be subject to existing appropriations. The agencies could also enter reimbursable agreements with outside entities and collaborate with other federal agencies. All activities would be required to comply with research security provisions of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act.

The Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation, which would negotiate and execute the partnership agreement. National laboratories, universities and other higher-education institutions, and nonprofit research organizations that could apply for joint projects. STEM students seeking internships and fellowships, and educators who could access professional development opportunities tied to the partnership.

Statutory backing would make the DOE-NSF collaboration more durable and accountable than informal arrangements alone. National laboratories and universities would gain clearer, competitively reviewed pathways to joint funding across high-priority research disciplines. STEM students and early-career researchers could access new learning opportunities, and Congress would receive a formal progress report to inform future oversight.

The Secretary of Energy and the NSF Director would negotiate a memorandum of understanding establishing the collaboration framework; that MOU must require a competitive, merit-reviewed application process. Both agencies may enter reimbursable agreements with outside entities and invite participation from other federal agencies. Within two years of enactment, the Secretary and Director must jointly report to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Senate Committees on Energy and Natural Resources and Commerce, Science, and Transportation, covering interagency coordination, technical capacity opportunities, research achievements, and future priorities. All activities must be consistent with research security rules in the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act.