OSTP RFI: Accelerating the American Scientific Enterprise

[[email protected]]

Dear HRA community,

I am writing to share an opportunity to share your organization’s perspective and expertise with the government. The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) published a request for information in the Federal Register seeking public input on policies that could strengthen and accelerate the U.S. scientific and technology ecosystem. The RFI invites feedback by December 26, 2025 on a wide range of potential changes to federal policy, funding mechanisms, and structures that shape America’s scientific enterprise. Submission of comments is open to academia, private-sector organizations, industry groups, state/local/tribal governments, researchers, and all other stakeholders, including funders, with relevant expertise. The HRA community is uniquely positioned to offer informed responses to questions such as:

• How can the federal government better support the translation of scientific discoveries from academia, national laboratories, and other research institutions into practical applications? Specifically, what changes to technology transfer policies, translational programs, or commercial incentives would accelerate the path from laboratory to market?
• What empirically grounded findings from metascience research and progress studies could inform federal grantmaking processes to maximize scientific productivity and increase total return on investment?
• What reforms will enable the American scientific enterprise to pursue more high-risk, high-reward research that could transform our scientific understanding and unlock new technologies, while sustaining the incremental science essential for cumulative production of knowledge?
• How can federal programs better identify and develop scientific talent across the country, particularly leveraging digital tools and distributed research models to engage researchers outside traditional academic centers?
• How can the federal government foster closer collaboration among scientists, engineers, and skilled technical workers, and better integrate training pathways, recognizing that breakthrough research often requires deep collaboration between theoretical and applied expertise?
• What policy mechanisms would ensure that the benefits of federally-funded research — including access to resulting technologies, economic opportunities, and improved quality of life — reach all Americans

In one form or another, the questions above, taken verbatim from the RFI, were explored at past member meetings and by a wide range of HRA members.

Best,

Kevin

[Author]

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