text: SECTION 1. ENERGY-RELATED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
  
      (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
              (1) information and opinions provided by individuals and 
          entities of the academic and industrial sectors should be an 
          important consideration with respect to energy-related research 
          and development activities carried out by the Federal 
          Government;
              (2) in carrying out energy-related research and development 
          activities, the Federal Government should regularly seek input 
          from multiple sources, including the industrial sector, 
          academia, and other relevant sectors;
              (3) research is better focused around well-defined problems 
          that need to be resolved;
              (4) a number of potential problems to be resolved are 
          likely to require input from a diverse selection of 
          technologies and contributing sectors;
              (5) sharing of information relating to energy research and 
          development is important to the development and innovation of 
          energy technologies;
              (6) necessary intellectual property protection can lead to 
          delays in sharing valuable information that could aid in 
          resolving major energy-related problems;
              (7) the Federal Government should facilitate the sharing of 
          information from a diverse array of industries by ensuring the 
          protection of intellectual property while simultaneously 
          creating an environment of openness and cooperation; and
              (8) the Federal Government should revise the methods of the 
          Federal Government regarding energy-related research and 
          development to encourage faster development and implementation 
          of energy technologies.
      (b) Definitions.--In this section:
              (1) Network.--The term ``network'' means the Energy 
          Technologies Innovation Network established by subsection 
          (d)(1).
              (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
          of Energy.
              (3) Survey.--The term ``survey'' means a survey conducted 
          pursuant to subsection (c).
      (c) Energy-Related Research and Development Priorities.--
              (1) In general.--Not less frequently than once every 5 
          years, the Secretary shall conduct a survey in accordance with 
          this subsection to determine the 10 highest-priority energy-
          related problems to resolve to ensure the goals of--
                      (A) maximizing the energy security of the United 
                  States;
                      (B) maximizing improvements in energy efficiency 
                  within the United States; and
                      (C) minimizing damage to the economy and the 
                  environment of the United States.
              (2) Survey.--
                      (A) In general.--Each survey shall contain a 
                  request that the respondent shall list, in descending 
                  order of priority, the 10 highest-priority energy-
                  related problems that, in the opinion of the 
                  respondent, require resolution as quickly as 
                  practicable to ensure the goals described in paragraph 
                  (1).
                      (B) Announcement.--The Secretary shall announce the 
                  existence of each survey by--
                              (i) publishing an announcement in the 
                          Federal Register; and
                              (ii) placing an announcement in a prominent 
                          position on the homepage of the website of the 
                          Department of the Energy.
                      (C) Availability.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
                  each survey is made available--
                              (i) in an electronic format only through a 
                          link on the Department of Energy website;
                              (ii) for a period of not less than 21 days 
                          and not more than 30 days; and
                              (iii) to any individual or entity that 
                          elects to participate.
                      (D) Additional information gathering.--Each 
                  survey--
                              (i) shall require each respondent to 
                          provide information regarding--
                                      (I) the age of the respondent;
                                      (II) the occupational category of 
                                  the respondent;
                                      (III) the period of time during 
                                  which the respondent has held the 
                                  current occupation of the respondent; 
                                  and
                                      (IV) the State and country in which 
                                  the respondent resides; and
                              (ii) may request, but shall not require--
                                      (I) the name of the respondent;
                                      (II) an identification of the 
                                  employer of the respondent;
                                      (III) the electronic mail address 
                                  of the respondent; and
                                      (IV) such other information as the 
                                  Secretary determines to be appropriate.
                      (E) Respondents.--The Secretary shall seek 
                  responses to a survey from appropriate representatives 
                  of--
                              (i) the energy, transportation, 
                          manufacturing, construction, mining, and 
                          electronic industries;
                              (ii) academia;
                              (iii) research facilities;
                              (iv) nongovernmental organizations;
                              (v) the Federal Government; and
                              (vi) units of State and local government.
                      (F) Nonpolitical requirement.--The Secretary shall 
                  ensure that each survey is conducted, to the maximum 
                  extent practicable--
                              (i) in a transparent, nonpolitical, and 
                          scientific manner; and
                              (ii) without any political bias.
                      (G) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
                  on which a survey under this subsection is no longer 
                  available under subparagraph (C)(ii), the Secretary 
                  shall submit to Congress and make available to the 
                  public (including through publication in the Federal 
                  Register and on the website of the Department of 
                  Energy) a report that--
                              (i) describes the results of the survey; 
                          and
                              (ii) includes a list of the 10 highest-
                          priority energy-related problems based on all 
                          responses to the survey.
              (3) Effect of results on energy-related research and 
          development.--
                      (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), on 
                  receipt of a report under paragraph (2)(G), the 
                  Secretary shall ensure that, during the 5-year period 
                  beginning on the date of receipt of the report, all 
                  energy-related research and development activities of 
                  the Department of Energy are carried out for the 
                  purpose of resolving, to the maximum extent 
                  practicable, the 10 problems included on the list of 
                  the report under paragraph (2)(G)(ii).
                      (B) Additional problems.--In addition to the 
                  activities described in subparagraph (A), during the 5-
                  year period beginning on the date of receipt of a 
                  report under paragraph (2)(G), the Secretary may carry 
                  out, using the same quantity of resources as are 
                  allocated to any 1 energy-related problem included on 
                  the list of the report under paragraph (2)(G)(ii), 
                  energy-related research and development activities for 
                  the purpose of resolving, to the maximum extent 
                  practicable, 2 additional energy-related problems 
                  that--
                              (i) are not included on the list; and
                              (ii) are high-priority energy-related 
                          problems, as determined by the Secretary.
      (d) Energy Technologies Innovation Network.--
              (1) Establishment.--There is established an information and 
          collaboration network, to be known as the ``Energy Technologies 
          Innovation Network''.
              (2) Purpose.--The purpose of the network shall be to 
          provide a forum through which interested parties (including 
          scientists and entrepreneurs) can present, discuss, and 
          collaborate with respect to information and ideas relating to 
          energy technologies.
              (3) Operation of network.--
                      (A) In general.--The Secretary shall offer to enter 
                  into a contract, after an open bidding process, with a 
                  third party to operate the network.
                      (B) Requirements.--The third party selected under 
                  subparagraph (A) shall--
                              (i) have experience with respect to the 
                          establishment and maintenance of a 
                          comprehensive database of Federal research and 
                          development projects that is--
                                      (I) easily searchable;
                                      (II) open to the public; and
                                      (III) capable of expansion;
                              (ii) provide a secure electronic forum to 
                          enable collaboration among users of the 
                          network; and
                              (iii) collaborate with the Secretary to 
                          protect the intellectual property rights of 
                          individual users and governmental agencies 
                          participating in the network in accordance with 
                          paragraph (6).
              (4) Required contributors.--Each research laboratory or 
          other facility that receives Federal funding shall provide to 
          the network the results of the research conducted using that 
          funding, regardless of whether the research relates to energy, 
          subject to the condition that revelation of the research will 
          not adversely effect national security.
              (5) Other contributors.--Other entities, including entities 
          in the academic and industrial sectors and individuals, may 
          participate in the network to actively contribute to 
          resolving--
                      (A) the energy-related problems included on the 
                  list of the report under subsection (c)(2)(G)(ii); or
                      (B) any other energy-related problem that the 
                  contributor determines would advance the goals 
                  described in subsection (c)(1).
              (6) Protection of information and ideas.--In collaborating 
          with a third party in operating the network under paragraph 
          (3), the Secretary shall employ such individuals and entities 
          with experience relating to--
                      (A) intellectual property as the Secretary 
                  determines to be necessary to ensure that--
                              (i) information and ideas presented, and 
                          discussed in the network are--
                                      (I) monitored with respect to the 
                                  intellectual property owners and 
                                  components of the information or ideas; 
                                  and
                                      (II) protected in accordance with 
                                  applicable Federal intellectual 
                                  property law (including regulations);
                              (ii) information and ideas developed within 
                          the network are--
                                      (I) monitored with respect to the 
                                  intellectual property components of the 
                                  developers of the information or ideas; 
                                  and
                                      (II) protected in accordance with 
                                  applicable Federal intellectual 
                                  property law (including regulations); 
                                  and
                              (iii) contributors to the network are 
                          provided adequate assurances that intellectual 
                          property rights of the contributors will be 
                          protected with respect to participation in the 
                          network;
                      (B) setting up, maintaining, and operating a 
                  network that ensures security and reliability.
      (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
  appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.
target: Directs the Secretary of Energy to conduct a survey every five years to determine the 10 highest-priority energy-related problems to resolve to ensure the goals of: (1) maximizing U.S. energy security; (2) maximizing improvements in energy efficiency within the United States; and (3) minimizing damage to the domestic economy and the environment.
  
  Instructs the Secretary to: (1) report to Congress the survey results, including a list of the 10 highest-priority energy-related problems based on survey responses; and (2) ensure that, during the five year period beginning on the date of receipt of the report, all energy-related research and development activities of the Department of Energy (DOE) are implemented for the purpose of resolving the problems listed.
  
  Establishes the Energy Technologies Innovation Network to provide a forum through which interested parties (including scientists and entrepreneurs) can present, discuss, and collaborate with respect to information and ideas relating to energy technologies.
  
  Requires each research facility that receives federal funding to provide to the Network the results of the research conducted using that funding, regardless of whether the research relates to energy.
feat_title: A bill to establish an energy technologies innovation network, and for other purposes.