§ 19107 — Challenges And Focus Areas

(a) In consultation with the Assistant Director, the Board, and the interagency working group established under part D of subchapter VI, the Director shall identify, and annually review and update as appropriate, a list of— (1) not more than 5 United States societal, national, and geostrategic challenges that may be addressed by technology to guide activities under this part; and (2) not more than 10 key technology focus areas to guide activities under this part. (b) The initial list of societal, national, and geostrategic challenges are the following: (1) United States national security. (2) United States manufacturing and industrial productivity. (3) United States workforce development and skills gaps. (4) Climate change and environmental sustainability. (5) Inequitable access to education, opportunity, or other services. (c) The initial list of key technology focus areas are the following: (1) Artificial intelligence, machine learning, autonomy, and related advances. (2) High performance computing, semiconductors, and advanced computer hardware and software. (3) Quantum information science and technology. (4) Robotics, automation, and advanced manufacturing. (5) Natural and anthropogenic disaster prevention or mitigation. (6) Advanced communications technology and immersive technology. (7) Biotechnology, medical technology, genomics, and synthetic biology. (8) Data storage, data management, distributed ledger technologies, and cybersecurity, including biometrics. (9) Advanced energy and industrial efficiency technologies, such as batteries and advanced nuclear technologies, including but not limited to for the purposes of electric generation (consistent with section 1874 of this title. (10) Advanced materials science, including composites 2D materials, other next-generation materials, and related manufacturing technologies. (1) In updating the list under subsection (a)(1), the Director shall evaluate national and global technology trends. (2) In updating the list under subsection (a)(2), the Director shall consider the impact of the selected technologies on United States societal, national, and geostrategic challenges. (3) The list under subsection (a)(2) may, but is not required to, align directly with the list under subsection (a)(1). (4) Nothing under this section shall prevent the Director from making limited investments in technologies or areas not identified in subsection (a)(1) or subsection (a)(2). (e) The Director, in coordination with the interagency working group established under part D of subchapter VI and in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, shall annually review and update as appropriate, the list of key technology focus areas for purposes of this division. As part of the annual review, the Director— (1) shall consider input from relevant industries and stakeholders; (2) may consider the challenges and recommendations identified in the reports required by sections 6615 and 6615b of this title, as added by section 10611 and 10613 of this division and in other relevant reports, such as technology and global trend reports from the defense and intelligence communities; (3) shall consider the potential impact of the key technology focus areas on addressing societal, national, and geostrategic challenges; and (4) subject to the limitation under subsection (a), may add or delete key technology focus areas in light of shifting national needs or competitive threats to the United States (including for reasons of the United States or other countries having advanced or fallen behind in a technological area). (f) At the conclusion of the annual review and update process required by subsection (e), the Director, in consultation with other Federal research agencies, as appropriate, shall deliver a report to Congress detailing— (1) the key technology focus areas and rationale for their selection; (2) the societal, national, and geostrategic challenges and rationale for their selection; (3) the role of the Foundation in advancing the key technology focus areas; (4) the impact, including to the academic research community, of any changes to the key technology focus areas; and (5) the activities and partnerships between the Directorate and the private sector. (g) The National Science Foundation shall, in coordination with the Office of Management and Budget, submit as part of their annual budget requests to Congress, a detailed description of the activities to be funded under this part, including an explanation of how the requested funding is complementary and not redundant of programs, efforts, and infrastructure undertaken or supported by other relevant Federal agencies. (h) Not later than 5 years after August 9, 2022, the Director shall contract with the National Academies to conduct a review of the key technology focus areas and the societal, national, and geostrategic challenges, including— (1) an assessment of their selection process; (2) an assessment of their relevance to the purposes of the Directorate, including to solving challenges with social, economic, health, scientific, and national security implications; (3) a review of whether Federal investment in the key technology focus areas have resulted in new domestic manufacturing capacity and job creation; (4) an assessment of any critical, new emerging areas; (5) an assessment of Federal investments in education and workforce development to support the key technology focus areas; and (6) an assessment of relative balance in leadership in addressing the key technology focus areas between the United States, allied and partner countries, and the People’s Republic of China.