THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release December 29, 2000
EXECUTIVE ORDER
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TO STRENGTHEN THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT-UNIVERSITY RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, and in order to keep the Federal
Government-University research partnership strong, it is hereby ordered as
follows:
Section 1. Principles of the Government-University Partnership. The
partnership in science and technology that has evolved between the Federal
Government and American universities has yielded benefits that are vital to
each. It continues to prove exceptionally productive, successfully
promoting the discovery of knowledge, stimulating technological innovation,
improving the quality of life, educating and training the next generation
of scientists and engineers, and contributing to America?s economic
prosperity and national security. In order to reaffirm and strengthen this
partnership, this order sets forth the following guiding and operating
principles that are fully described in the April 1999 National Science and
Technology Council report, "Renewing the Government-University
Partnership." These principles shall provide the framework for the
development and analysis of all future Federal policies, rules, and
regulations for the Federal Government-University research partnership.
(a) The guiding principles that shall govern interactions between the
Federal Government and universities that perform research are:
(1) Research is an investment in the future;
(2) The integration of research and education is vital;
(3) Excellence is promoted when investments are guided by merit
review; and
(4) Research must be conducted with integrity.
(b) The operating principles that shall assist agencies,
universities, individual researchers, and auditing and regulatory bodies in
implementing the guiding principles are:
(1) Agency cost-sharing policies and practices must be transparent;
(2) Partners should respect the merit review process;
(3) Agencies and universities should manage research in a
cost-efficient manner;
(4) Accountability and accounting are not the same;
(5) The benefits of simplicity in policies and practices should be
weighed against the costs;
(6) Change should be justified by need and the process made
transparent.
(c) Each executive branch department or agency that supports research
at universities shall regularly review its existing policies and procedures
to ensure that they meet the spirit and intent of the guiding and operating
principles stated above.
Sec. 2. Office of Science and Technology (OSTP) Review of the
Government-University Research Partnership. (a) The OSTP, in conjunction
with the National Science and Technology Council, shall conduct a regular
review of the Government-University research partnership and prepare a
report on the status of the partnership. The OSTP should receive input
from all departments or agencies that have a major impact on the
Government-University partnership through their support of research and
education, policy making, regulatory activities, and research
administra-tion. In addition, OSTP may seek the input of the National
Science Board and the President?s Committee of Advisors for Science and
Technology, as well as other stakeholders, such as State and local
governments, industry, the National Academy of Sciences, and the Federal
Demonstration Partnership.
(b) The purpose of the review and the report is to determine the
overall health of the Government-University research partnership, being
mindful of the guiding and operating principles stated above. The report
should include recommendations on how to improve the Government-University
partnership.
(c) The Director of OSTP shall deliver the report to the President.
Sec. 3. Judicial Review. This order does not create any enforceable
rights against the United States, its agencies, its officers, or any
person.
WILLIAM J. CLINTON
THE WHITE HOUSE,
December 28, 2000.
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