Federal Government-University Research Partnership Reviewed

An interagency task force of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) has released its findings on the state of the science and technology partnership between the federal government and universities.

The review of the government/university partnership began three years ago in response to letters from leaders in industry and academia, state governors, and Congress stating that incremental changes in government policy and administrative practices were undermining national objectives and harming universities. They urged a thorough review of the government-university research partnership to strengthen it and make it more effective.

A review of the issue was conducted by a task force under the auspices of the NSTC. The task force, comprised of the major federal research agencies (NIH, NSF, DOD, DOE, NASA, USDA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and chaired by the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), solicited input from universities and federal agencies on matters considered most pressing and in need of review.

The task force made the following recommendations:

• The NSTC should work with the university community to develop a statement of principles of the government-university partnership to clarify the roles, responsibilities, and expectations of the parties -- namely, funding agencies, universities, individual investigators, and regulatory bodies -- and to provide a framework for the development of new policies, rules, regulations, and laws affecting the partnership.
• It should be recognized that federal grants support not only scientists but also the university students with whom they work. NSTC will lead efforts to eliminate government regulations that enforce artificial distinctions between students and employees so that students are to fulfill their dual roles as learners and research workers.
• NSTC should take action to modify selected business practices of federal agencies in order to reduce the administrative burden on researchers and to promote cost and administrative efficiencies while maintaining accountability for public funds.

NSTC is a cabinet-level agency charged with coordinating science, space, and technology policies throughout the federal government. The report is available online at: www.whitehouse.gov/WH/EOP/OSTP/html/rand/index.htm