42 USC § 18631 - Crosscutting research and development

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s18631"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "42 USC § 18631 - Crosscutting research and development"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
section_number: "18631"
section_name: "Crosscutting research and development"
chapter_number: 161
chapter_name: "DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY RESEARCH AND INNOVATION"
subchapter_number: "II"
subchapter_name: "DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY RESEARCH COORDINATION"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 115–246, title II, § 203, Sept. 28, 2018, 132 Stat. 3135.)"
---


# § 18631. Crosscutting research and development

**(a)** **In general** 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)** **Existing programs; coordination of activities** 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)** **Additional actions** 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.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 115–246, title II, § 203, Sept. 28, 2018, 132 Stat. 3135.)