51 USC § 40111 - Fundamental research program

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t51/s40111"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "51 USC § 40111 - Fundamental research program"
title_number: 51
title_name: "NATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL SPACE PROGRAMS"
section_number: "40111"
section_name: "Fundamental research program"
chapter_number: 401
chapter_name: "AERONAUTICS"
subchapter_number: "II"
subchapter_name: "HIGH PRIORITY AERONAUTICS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3379.)"
---


# § 40111. Fundamental research program

**(a)** **Objective.—** In order to ensure that the Nation maintains needed capabilities in fundamental areas of aeronautics research, the Administrator shall establish a program of long-term fundamental research in aeronautical sciences and technologies that is not tied to specific development projects.

**(b)** **Operation.—** The Administrator shall conduct the program under this section, in part by awarding grants to institutions of higher education. The Administrator shall encourage the participation of institutions of higher education located in States that participate in the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research. All grants to institutions of higher education under this section shall be awarded through merit review.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3379.)

| RevisedSection | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 40111 | 42 U.S.C. 16721(a), (b). | Pub. L. 109–155, title IV, § 421(a), (b), Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2924. |