---
type: "LegalText"
title: "15 U.S.C. § 3702"
description: "Purpose"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 15
title_name: "COMMERCE AND TRADE"
chapter_number: "63"
chapter_name: "TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION"
section: "3702"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 3702"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc15@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t15/s3702"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-15/usc15.xml"
source_hash: "b4e3c6a3236e285bf2737843533ef6e0b346ae421f7bf73e6f99cb3a2934f88c"
raw_snapshot_hash: "6982338d990ef19d6b52bff6825089bdd6d0ee1233d9382673faf533decd5059"
text_hash: "2a005a982655f196ae53a0e80a360f4c51dc43d32f106405f44c988fb95b00f4"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 15 U.S.C. § 3702 - Purpose

## Text

It is the purpose of this chapter to improve the economic, environmental, and social well-being of the United States by—

(1) establishing organizations in the executive branch to study and stimulate technology;

(2) promoting technology development through the establishment of cooperative research centers;

(3) stimulating improved utilization of federally funded technology developments, including inventions, software, and training technologies, by State and local governments and the private sector;

(4) providing encouragement for the development of technology through the recognition of individuals and companies which have made outstanding contributions in technology; and

(5) encouraging the exchange of scientific and technical personnel among academia, industry, and Federal laboratories.

(Pub. L. 96–480, § 3, Oct. 21, 1980, 94 Stat. 2312; Pub. L. 99–502, § 9(b)(1), (f)(2), Oct. 20, 1986, 100 Stat. 1795, 1797.)

## Notes

Editorial Notes

Amendments1986—Par. (2). Pub. L. 99–502, § 9(b)(1), substituted “cooperative research centers” for “centers for industrial technology”. Par. (3). Pub. L. 99–502, § 9(f)(2), inserted “, including inventions, software, and training technologies,”.