Encouraging Innovation in Manufacturing

Executive Order 13329 of February 24, 2004

Encouraging Innovation in Manufacturing

By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, including the Small Business Act, as amended
(15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.), and to help ensure that
Federal agencies properly and effectively assist the
private sector in its manufacturing innovation efforts,
it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. Continued technological innovation
is critical to a strong manufacturing sector in the
United States economy. The Federal Government has an
important role, including through the Small Business
Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business
Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, in helping to
advance innovation, including innovation in
manufacturing, through small businesses.

Sec. 2. Duties of Department and Agency Heads. The head
of each executive branch department or agency with one
or more SBIR programs or one or more STTR programs
shall:

    (a) to the extent permitted by law and in a manner
consistent with the mission of that department or
agency, give high priority within such programs to
manufacturing-related research and development to
advance the policy set forth in section 1 of this
order; and
    (b) submit reports annually to the Administrator of
the Small Business Administration and the Director of
the Office of Science and Technology Policy concerning
the efforts of such department or agency to implement
subsection 2(a) of this order.

Sec. 3. Duties of Administrator of the Small Business
Administration. The Administrator of the Small Business
Administration:

    (a) shall establish, after consultation with the
Director of the Office of Science and Technology
Policy, formats and schedules for submission of reports
by the heads of departments and agencies under
subsection 2(b) of this order; and
    (b) is authorized to issue to departments and
agencies guidelines and directives (in addition to the
formats and schedules under subsection 3(a)) as the
Administrator determines from time to time are
necessary to implement subsection 2(a) of this order,
after such guidelines and directives are submitted to
the President, through the Director of the Office of
Science and Technology Policy, for approval and are
approved by the President.

Sec. 4. Definitions. As used in this order:

    (a) “Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
program” means a program to which section 9(e)(4) of
the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(e)(4)) refers;
    (b) “Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)
program” means a program to which section 9(e)(6) of
the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(e)(6)) refers;
    (c) “research and development” means an activity
set forth in section 9(e)(5) of the Small Business Act
(15 U.S.C. 638(e)(5)); and
    (d) “manufacturing-related” means relating to:
(i) manufacturing processes, equipment and systems; or
(ii) manufacturing workforce skills and protection.

Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order
shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect the
authority of the Director of the Office

of Management and Budget with respect to budget,
administrative, or legislative proposals.

    (b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to
require disclosure of information the disclosure of
which is prohibited by law or by Executive Order,
including Executive Order 12958 of April 17, 1995, as
amended.
    (c) This order is intended only to improve the
internal management of the executive branch and is not
intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit,
substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in
equity, against the United States, its departments,
agencies, or other entities, its officers or employees,
or any other person.

    (Presidential Sig.)B

THE WHITE HOUSE,

     February 24, 2004.