ESTABLISHMENT OF COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTERS.

SEC. 3115. ESTABLISHMENT OF COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTERS.(a) Cooperative Research and Development Centers.—(1) In general.—Section 4813 of the Atomic Energy Defense Act (division D of Public Law 107–314; 50 U.S.C. 2794) is amended—124 STAT. 4512(A) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and(B) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsection (b):“(b) Cooperative Research and Development Centers.—(1) Subject to the availability of appropriations provided for such purpose, the Administrator for Nuclear Security shall establish a cooperative research and development center described in paragraph (2) at each national security laboratory.“(2) A cooperative research and development center described in this paragraph is a center to foster collaborative scientific research, technology development, and the appropriate transfer of research and technology to users in addition to the national security laboratories.“(3) In establishing a cooperative research and development center under this subsection, the Administrator—“(A) shall enter into cooperative research and development agreements with governmental, public, academic, or private entities; and“(B) may enter into a contract with respect to constructing, purchasing, managing, or leasing buildings or other facilities.”.(2) Definition.—Subsection (c) of such section, as redesignated by paragraph (1)(A), is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:“(5) The term ‘national security laboratory’ has the meaning given that term in section 3281 of the National Nuclear Security Administration Act (50 U.S.C. 2471).”.(3) Section heading.—The heading of such section is amended by inserting “and cooperative research and development centers” after “partnerships”.(b) Clerical Amendment.—The table of contents for the Atomic Energy Defense Act is amended by striking the item relating to section 4813 and inserting the following new item: “Sec. 4813. Critical technology partnerships and cooperative research and development centers.”.