HB499 (2007) Detail

(New Title) relative to the innovation research center.


CHAPTER 251

HB 499 – FINAL VERSION

05/24/07 1344s

13Jun2007… 2128eba

2007 SESSION

07-0186

08/04

HOUSE BILL 499

AN ACT relative to the innovation research center.

SPONSORS: Rep. J. Thomas, Belk 5; Sen. Odell, Dist 8

COMMITTEE: Commerce

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill renames the industrial research center at the University of New Hampshire as the innovation research center and redefines its purpose.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

05/24/07 1344s

13Jun2007… 2128eba

07-0186

08/04

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seven

AN ACT relative to the innovation research center.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

251:1 Innovation Research Center. Amend the subdivision heading preceding RSA 187-A:30 to read as follows:

[Industrial] Innovation Research Center

251:2 Purpose; Innovation Research Center. Amend RSA 187-A:30 to read as follows:

187-A:30 Purpose. To promote the economic well-being of its citizens, the general court finds it desirable to establish an [industrial] innovation research center at the University of New Hampshire for the purpose of providing a mechanism to promote applied and basic scientific, engineering, and associated marketing research and technological transfer to support the New Hampshire industrial and business community. [This center will provide the means for improving the competitiveness of New Hampshire industry and the upgrading and development of new and old products through the support and cooperation of the state with industry and business. The supported research, innovation and technology transfer activities will preserve and increase the number of jobs in New Hampshire.] This center shall foster cooperative industry and university research partnerships to increase the pace of innovation technology developments that expand the New Hampshire economy, increase the number and quality of jobs in New Hampshire, and cause New Hampshire to be more competitive in the world economy. The center shall become the foremost advocate in the state for applied science and technology, bridging the gap between industry and academia by the judicious application of “innovation investment” competitive contract awards and other developmental support to the New Hampshire business community. The center shall seek to expand the available “innovation investment” funds by leveraging center talent and the available grant money provided by the legislature to pursue and capture federal and other appropriate funds to increase the pace of innovation and job creation in New Hampshire.

251:3 Grant Program; Innovation Research Center. Amend RSA 187-A:31 to read as follows:

187-A:31 Grant Program. To carry out the purposes of this subdivision the department of resources and economic development shall enter into a grant program with the university of New Hampshire to establish a center for [Industrial] innovation research at the Durham campus. Through the grant program, the center shall provide applied and basic scientific, engineering, and associated marketing research capability and technology transfer in support of New Hampshire’s industrial and business community. The center may pool its funds with those of other entities, either public or private, for the purpose of delivering services to New Hampshire businesses and industries. To be eligible to receive grant-funded services, businesses and industries must have an ongoing business within the state or an announced intention to locate a business in the state. The center may provide services other than grants including but not limited to: training regarding the capture and protection of intellectual property, strategic thinking and strategy development, and writing proposals. Assistance may be provided by the NHIRC director, by small subsidies to assist in the identification and funding of consultants to help the company, or by other creative means approved by the NHIRC oversight committee.

251:4 Oversight Committee; Membership; Duties. Amend RSA 187-A:32(g) to read as follows:

(g) The [associate provost for academic affairs] director of the technology transfer office of Dartmouth College.

251:5 Fees; Innovation Research Center. Amend RSA 187-A:33-b to read as follows:

187-A:33-b Fees. The [industrial] innovation research center may assess fees on the business or industry involved with a project of up to 5 percent of the total cost of the project under RSA 187-A:31. The center shall reimburse the university of New Hampshire or Dartmouth College for its administrative expenses incurred out of these fees.

251:6 New Hampshire Economic Development Fund. Amend RSA 12-A:2-e, III(c) to read as follows:

(c) [Industrial] Innovation Research Center.

251:7 Program Name Change. Amend RSA 187-A:35, I to read as follows:

I. A program to provide assistance to inventors shall be established at the [industrial] innovation research center at the University of New Hampshire at Durham. The center shall develop, implement, publicize, and operate the program within the limits of available resources and in a manner which will give greatest effect to the purposes of the program. In so doing the center may charge a reasonable fee for proposals submitted. The administrative head of the program shall be the executive director of the [industrial] innovation research center. The administrative head shall be responsible to the oversight committee established in RSA 187-A:32.

251:8 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

Approved: June 28, 2007

Effective: August 27, 2007