§ 18631. Crosscutting research and development

• (a) The Secretary shall use the capabilities of the Department to identify strategic opportunities for collaborative research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of innovative science and technologies.
• (b) To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall seek—
  • (1) to leverage existing programs of the Department; and
  • (2) to consolidate and coordinate activities throughout the Department to promote collaboration and crosscutting approaches within programs of the Department.
• (c) The Secretary shall—
  • (1) prioritize activities that use all affordable domestic resources;
  • (2) develop a planning, evaluation, and technical assessment framework for setting objective long-term strategic goals and evaluating progress that—
    • (A) ensures integrity and independence; and
    • (B) provides the flexibility to adapt to market dynamics;
  • (3) ensure that activities shall be undertaken in a manner that does not duplicate other activities within the Department or other Federal Government activities; and
  • (4) identify programs that may be more effectively left to the States, industry, nongovernmental organizations, institutions of higher education, or other stakeholders.