Under Secretary Cohen's Testimony - Enabling U.S. Leadership in Science & Technology

University Based Centers of Excellence

The S&T Directorate is developing a robust, results-oriented network of Homeland Security Centers of Excellence (COEs) to leverage the independent thinking and ground-breaking capabilities of the Nation's colleges and universities.  The COEs are conducting multidisciplinary research and education, each focused on an area critical to homeland security.  The Office of University Programs is providing the communications and infrastructure to produce, share, and transition the Centers' research results, data, and technology to customers and end users.

Currently, seven pre-existing COEs connect experts and researchers at more than 80 colleges and universities, including several Minority Serving Institutions (MSI).  More than 20 partners representing industry, laboratories, think tanks, nonprofit organizations, and other agencies also participate.  University Programs is coordinating COE efforts with other S&T Directorate-sponsored, university-based initiatives.  Under the new S&T organizational construct, existing COEs are being strategically aligned with at least one S&T division, or to Directorate-wide activities such as Operations Analysis and the Homeland Security Institute, in a structure that will best support the Divisions' fundamental research and development activities and other requirements.

We are proceeding with plans to establish four additional COEs over the next two fiscal years to help round-out the Directorate's need for university-based fundamental research. The new COEs will combine the research missions of some existing COEs and add new research areas under the division-aligned construct to meet DHS needs.  S&T has released Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) regarding plans to establish new COEs in the areas of explosives detection, mitigation, and response; border security and immigration; maritime, island, and extreme/remote environment security; and natural disasters, coastal infrastructure and emergency management.  The competitive selection process is designed to ensure that institutions of high quality and academic merit participate from as many areas of the United States as practicable.

DHS Scholars and Fellows Program

DHS education programs are helping to attract and nurture future scientific leaders for the homeland security workforce and to strengthen the expertise of our existing labor pool. University Programs is engaging high-performing students through the DHS Scholars and Fellows program. Increasingly, S&T's scholarships and fellowships will become aligned to the Centers of Excellence and to the DHS mission.  During this period of transition, we will honor our commitments to all currently participating Scholars and Fellows.

The FY 2008 budget requests $38.7 million for S&T's University Programs, which includes the Homeland Security Centers of Excellence and the Scholars and Fellows Program.

Office of National Laboratories

In carrying out its mission, the S&T Directorate works to develop, sustain, and renew a coordinated network of DOE National Laboratories, Federal laboratories and University Centers, the infrastructure needed by multi-disciplinary teams of scientists, engineers and academics to discover, develop and transition homeland security capabilities to operational end-users.  

The FY 2008 budget request includes $88.8 million for the Office for National Laboratories (ONL), through which the S&T Directorate's laboratory facilities programs are executed. ONL provides the Nation with a coordinated, enduring core of productive science, technology and engineering laboratories, organizations and institutions, which can supply knowledge and technology required to secure our homeland.  In addition to oversight of laboratory operations in direct support of the Department and its missions, ONL also has the specific responsibility for coordinating homeland security-related activities and laboratory-directed research conducted within the DOE National Laboratories.

Industry Participation in DHS Science & Technology

Industry is a valued partner of DHS S&T and its continued participation in developing solutions for homeland security applications is vital to our effort to safeguard the nation.  Consistent with S&T's new structure, our Innovation/HSARPA portfolio and six technical divisions will be releasing BAAs that seek industry participation to address specific challenges in their respective areas. For example, Innovation/HSARPA has already posted BAAs seeking expertise in tunnel detection technologies, container security (SAFECON program), and a mobile screening laboratory to support human screening R&D in the field.

Innovation/HSARPA plans to release six additional BAAs shortly to address areas that include critical infrastructure protection, hostile intent detection and other key areas.  No later than spring 2007, we intend to issue a BAA for longer-term efforts that cover our complete innovation topic area portfolio.

No one knows where good ideas come from and for that reason I have been personally proactive in both seeking out and receiving technology briefs and opportunities.  This is a culture I am working to instill throughout the DHS S&T Directorate.

The Support Anti-terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies (SAFETY) Act of 2002, administered in the S&T Directorate, is proving to be a valuable tool in expanding the creation, proliferation and use of cutting edge anti-terrorism technologies throughout the United States.  Over the past year we have made significant improvements in implementing the Act, including a revised, streamlined Application Kit; new coverage for emerging technologies that are undergoing test and evaluation; increased use of pre-application teleconferences between SAFETY Act technology evaluators and applicants to review requirements and answer questions prior to submitting a full application; and procedures to expedite applications for technologies involved with pending government procurements.  In 2006, 65 unique technologies and services were approved for coverage under the Act, with approximately 40 currently under evaluation.  I am mindful of the interest in this program in the Congress and across the Nation.

As part of our outreach efforts to encourage greater industry participation, the Directorate is hosting the first Homeland Security Science & Technology Stakeholders Conference, May 21-24.  The conference will inform government, industry and academia of the direction, emphasis, and scope of the research investments by the S&T Directorate, and provide information about business opportunities. The conference will present the Directorate's new organization, explain how to do business with the DHS S&T research enterprise, and provide visibility into new and emerging technologies through an Innovation Gateway Marketplace.  I hope you will join us for this event at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.