S. 3468: National Programmable Cloud Laboratories Network Act of 2025

This bill, known as the National Programmable Cloud Laboratories Network Act of 2025, aims to establish a national network of programmable cloud laboratories to enhance the effectiveness of research, promote innovation, and facilitate collaboration among various research entities in the United States. Through the creation of this network, several key objectives would be pursued:

Objectives

• Maintain the United States' leadership in advanced experimentation and artificial intelligence for scientific research and national security.
• Reduce costs associated with federally funded research through increased automation and reproducibility.
• Accelerate the transfer of government-funded research into commercially viable applications.
• Enhance collaboration between federally funded national laboratories, institutions of higher education, and private industries.
• Ensure that investments in programmable cloud laboratories result in measurable cost savings and long-term financial sustainability.
• Encourage private-sector participation in sharing the costs of research infrastructure and equipment.
• Support workforce development in alignment with the technical needs of industries in the country.
• Develop the domestic market for scientific automation tools, artificial intelligence systems, and robotics designed for laboratory settings.
• Advance scientific research in areas like materials science, biotechnology, and chemistry, utilizing cloud-enabled experimentation technologies.

Network Establishment

The bill mandates the establishment of the National Programmable Cloud Laboratories Network no later than one year after its enactment. This network will consist of no more than six designated nodes—these are specified labs that will be equipped with advanced research tools and capabilities, allowing for secure and remote experimentation.

Node Designation and Application

The Director of the National Science Foundation will issue a public solicitation for entities interested in being designated as nodes in the network. Eligible applicants can include:

• Institutions of higher education
• Nonprofit research organizations
• Private-sector research entities
• Collaborations of the above entities

Applicants must demonstrate their capability for self-sustainability and present a plan that details laboratory operations and automation features. The selection of nodes will be based on a competitive process that evaluates several criteria including existing infrastructure, collaborative potential, and capacity for long-term sustainability without continued federal funding.

Responsibilities of Designated Nodes

Once a node is designated, it will be responsible for:

• Supporting the research goals outlined in the bill, particularly in areas requiring automation.
• Facilitating collaboration among the network members.
• Participating in the development of interoperability standards and data-sharing protocols.
• Enabling remote experimentation and ensuring a secure scientific infrastructure.
• Establishing revenue-generating models to sustain operations over time.

Interagency Collaboration

The bill calls for collaboration between various federal agencies to develop standards for interoperability, data-sharing, and secure experimentation methods within the network. This will involve the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and will be applicable to all nodes within the network.

Assessment of Non-Designated Laboratories

After the final node is established, the Director will conduct a thorough assessment of non-designated laboratories. This assessment will evaluate their capabilities and potential pathways to collaborate within the network. The results will help identify additional resources and facilities that could contribute to the goals of the cloud laboratories network.

Reporting and Oversight

The Director is required to provide annual briefings to Congress regarding the network's status, progress towards sustainability, and alignment of research activities with national scientific priorities.

Sunset Provision

The provisions of this Act, including the establishment of the network and associated funding, will terminate on September 30, 2031.

Relevant Companies

• GOOGL - Alphabet Inc. may be involved due to its work with cloud technology and artificial intelligence research.
• MSFT - Microsoft Corporation could be impacted by this bill through its Azure cloud services, which may support programmable laboratory operations.
• AMZN - Amazon's AWS division could have a role in providing cloud infrastructure for the network.