Independent report: DOE labs need to create local connections

Science : The Brookings Institute and the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation released a joint report saying that the Department of Energy’s 17 national science laboratories need to adapt to modern economic and global security issues. The authors say that the goals of the labs are fine but that they should shift their focus to developing regional connections to further strengthen the nation’s energy industries. The report lists 15 recommendations, including giving lab directors more control to build local economic partnerships, creating off-campus labs to attract local businesses, and providing research assistance to small- and medium-sized companies. Several other outside reviews of DOE policies and structure have been performed, and department secretary Ernest Moniz and Congress have both established their own reviews of the agency’s functioning.