392
PUBLIC LAW 85-536-JULY 18, 1958
[72
ST A T.
concerns are thereby placed at a competitive disadvantage. This weakens the competitive free enterprise system and prevents the orderly development of the national economy. I t is the policy of the Congress that assistance be given to small-business concerns to enable them to undertake and to obtain the benefits of research and development in order to maintain and strengthen the competitive free enterprise system and the national economy. " (b) I t shall be the duty of the Administration, and it is hereby empowered— "(1) to assist small-business concerns to obtain Government contracts for research and development; "(2) to assist small-business concerns to obtain the benefits of research and development performed under Government contracts or at Government expense; and "(3) to provide technical assistance to small-business concerns to accomplish the purposes of this section. Studies and rec "(c) The Administration is authorized to consult and cooperate ommendations. with all Government agencies and to make studies and recommendations to such agencies, and such agencies are authorized and directed to cooperate with the Administration in order to carry out and to accomplish the purposes of this section. Joint programs. " (d)(1) The Administrator is authorized to consult with representatives of small-business concerns with a view to assisting and encouraging such firms to undertake joint programs for research and development carried out through such corporate or other mechanism as may be most appropriate for the purpose. Such joint programs may, among other things, include the following purposes: " (A) to construct, acquire, or establish laboratories and other facilities for the conduct of research; " (B) to undertake and utilize applied research; " (C) to collect research information related to a particular industry and disseminate it to participating members; " (D) to conduct applied research on a protected, proprietary, and contractual basis with member or nonmember firms. Government agencies, and others; " (E) to prosecute applications for patents and render patent services for participating members; and " (F) to negotiate and grant licenses under patents held under the joint program, and to establish corporations designed to exploit particular patents obtained by it. Agreements. "(2) The Administrator may, after consultation with the Attorney Approval. General and the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, and with the prior written approval of the Attorney General, approve any agreement between small-business firms providing for a joint program of research and development, if the Administrator finds that the joint program proposed will maintain and strengthen the free Withdrawal. enterprise system and the economy of the Nation. The Administrator or the Attorney General may at any time withdraw his approval of the agreement and the joint program of research and development covered thereby, if he finds that the agreement or the joint program carried on under it is no longer in the best interests of the competitive Publication in free enterprise system and the economy of the Nation. A copy of the statement of any such finding and approval intended to be within the coverage of this subsection, and a copy of any modification or withdrawal of approval, shall be published in the Federal Register. The authority conferred by this subsection on the Administrator shall not be delegated by him. ti^""*'""* exemp- u^g^ -^^ g^^^ QJ. omissiou to act pursuant to and within the scope of any joint program for research and development, under an agree-
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