15 U.S.C. § 3707 — National Science Foundation Cooperative Research Centers

(a) Establishment and provisions The National Science Foundation must provide assistance for the establishment of Cooperative Research Centers. Such Centers must be affiliated with a university, or other nonprofit institution, or a group of it. The objective of the Centers is to enhance technological innovation as provided in section 3705(a) of this title through the conduct of activities as provided in section 3705(b) of this title . (b) Planning grants The National Science Foundation is authorized to make available nonrenewable planning grants to universities or nonprofit institutions to developing the plan, as described under section 3705(c)(3) of this title . (c) Terms and conditions Grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements entered into by the National Science Foundation in execution of the powers and duties of the National Science Foundation under this chapter must be governed by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 [ 42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.] and other pertinent Acts.