PUBLIC LAW 106-554—APPENDIX I 114 STAT. 2763A-675 "(3) FAST PROGRAM. —The term 'FAST program' means the Federal and State Technology Partnership Program established under this section. "(4) MENTOR. — The term 'mentor' means an individual described in section 35(c)(2). "(5) MENTORING NETWORK.— The term 'Mentoring Network' means an association, organization, coalition, or other entity (including an individual) that meets the requirements of section 35(c). "(6) RECIPIENT. —The term 'recipient' means a person that receives an award or becomes party to a cooperative agreement under this section. "(7) SBIR PROGRAM. — The term 'SBIR program' has the same meaning as in section 9(e)(4). "(8) STATE. —The term 'State' means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa. "(9) STTR PROGRAM. —The term 'STTR program' has the same meaning as in section 9(e)(6). "(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM. —The Administrator shall establish a program to be known as the Federal and State Technology Partnership Program, the purpose of which shall be to strengthen the technological competitiveness of small business concerns in the States. " (c) GRANTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.— "(1) JOINT REVIEW.—In carrying out the FAST program under this section, the Administrator and the SBIR program managers at the National Science Foundation and the Department of Defense shall jointly review proposals submitted by applicants and may make awards or enter into cooperative agreements under this section based on the factors for consideration set forth in paragraph (2), in order to enhance or develop in a State— "(A) technology research and development by small business concerns; "(B) technology transfer from university research to technology-based small business concerns; "(C) technology deplojonent and diffusion benefiting small business concerns; "(D) the technological capabilities of small business concerns through the establishment or operation of consortia comprised of entities, organizations, or individuals, including— "(i) State and local development agencies and entities; "(ii) representatives of technology-based small business concerns; "(iii) industries and emerging companies; "(iv) universities; and "(v) small business development centers; and "(E) outreach, financial support, and technical assistance to technology-based small business concerns participating in or interested in participating in an SBIR program, including initiatives— "(i) to make grants or loans to companies to pay a portion or all of the cost of developing SBIR proposals;
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