NRS231.1595. Powers and duties of Executive Director: Economic development goals; expansion, enhancement, transfer and commercialization of research; encouragement of investment; reports; agreements.

      1.  In consultation with the Board and the Chancellor, the Executive Director shall:

      (a) Establish, for the programs established pursuant to NRS 231.1591 to 231.1597, inclusive, economic development goals which are consistent with the State Plan for Economic Development developed by the Executive Director pursuant to subsection 2 of NRS 231.053 and the strategic plans of the research universities and the Desert Research Institute.

      (b) In cooperation with the administration of the research universities and the Desert Research Institute, expand science and technology research at the research universities and the Desert Research Institute.

      (c) Enhance technology transfer and commercialization of research and technologies developed at the research universities and the Desert Research Institute to create high-quality jobs and new industries in this State.

      (d) Establish economic development objectives for the programs established pursuant to NRS 231.1591 to 231.1597, inclusive.

      (e) Verify that the programs established pursuant to NRS 231.1591 to 231.1597, inclusive, are being enhanced by research grants and that such programs are meeting the Board’s economic development objectives.

      (f) Monitor all research plans that are part of the programs established pursuant to NRS 231.1591 to 231.1597, inclusive, at the research universities and the Desert Research Institute to determine that allocations from the Knowledge Account created by NRS 231.1592 are being spent in accordance with legislative intent and to maximize the benefit and return to this State.

      (g) Develop methods and incentives to encourage investment in and contributions to the programs established pursuant to NRS 231.1591 to 231.1597, inclusive, from the private sector.

      (h) Establish requirements for periodic reports from the research universities and the Desert Research Institute concerning the use of allocations from the Knowledge Account pursuant to NRS 231.1597. The requirements must include, without limitation, a requirement that the recipient of the allocation include in such a report:

             (1) A description of each activity undertaken with money from the allocation and the amount of money used for each such activity; and

             (2) Such documentation as the Executive Director deems appropriate to support the information provided in the report.

      (i) On or before November 1, 2012, and on or before November 1 of every year thereafter, submit a report to the Governor and to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmittal to the Interim Finance Committee, if the report is received during an odd-numbered year, or to the next session of the Legislature, if the report is received during an even-numbered year. The report must include, without limitation:

             (1) The number of research teams and faculty recruited, hired and retained pursuant to NRS 231.1597 and the amount of funding provided to those research teams;

             (2) A description of the research being conducted by the research teams and faculty for which the Executive Director has provided funding pursuant to NRS 231.1597;

             (3) The number of patents which have been filed as a result of the programs established pursuant to NRS 231.1591 to 231.1597, inclusive;

             (4) The amount of research grants awarded to the research teams and faculty recruited, hired and retained pursuant to NRS 231.1597;

             (5) The amount of all grants, gifts and donations to the Knowledge Account from public and private sources;

             (6) The number of businesses which have been created or expanded in this State, or relocated to this State, because of the programs established pursuant to NRS 231.1591 to 231.1597, inclusive; and

             (7) The number of jobs which have been created or saved as a result of the activities of the Office.

      2.  The Executive Director may enter into any agreements necessary to obtain private equity investment in the programs established pursuant to NRS 231.1591 to 231.1597, inclusive.

      (Added to NRS by 2011, 3439; A 2013, 2752)