§3032. Technology transfer and universal design

(a) In general

The Director of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research may collaborate with the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer established under section 11(e) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710(e)), to promote technology transfer that will further development of assistive technology and products that incorporate the principles of universal design.

(b) Collaboration

In promoting the technology transfer, the Director and the Consortium described in subsection (a) of this section may collaborate-

(1) to enable the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research to work more effectively with the Consortium, and to enable the Consortium to fulfill the responsibilities of the Consortium to assist Federal agencies with technology transfer under the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq);

(2) to increase the awareness of staff members of the Federal Laboratories regarding assistive technology issues and the principles of universal design;

(3) to compile a compendium of current and projected Federal Laboratory technologies and projects that have or will have an intended or recognized impact on the available range of assistive technology for individuals with disabilities, including technologies and projects that incorporate the principles of universal design, as appropriate;

(4) to develop strategies for applying developments in assistive technology and universal design to mainstream technology, to improve economies of scale and commercial incentives for assistive technology; and

(5) to cultivate developments in assistive technology and universal design through demonstration projects and evaluations, conducted with assistive technology professionals and potential users of assistive technology.

(c) Grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements

The Secretary may make grants to or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with commercial, nonprofit, or other organizations, including institutions of higher education, to facilitate interaction with the Consortium to achieve the objectives of this section.

( Pub. L. 105–394, title II, §212, Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3654 .)

References in Text

The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), is Pub. L. 96–480, Oct. 21, 1980, 94 Stat. 2311 , as amended, which is classified generally to chapter 63 (§3701 et seq.) of Title 15, Commerce and Trade. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 3701 of Title 15 and Tables.

Codification

Section is comprised of section 212 of Pub. L. 105–394. Subsec. (d) of section 212 of Pub. L. 105–394 amended section 3710 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.