§5B-2C-6. Periodic reports.

(a) The academy will prepare and produce an annual report on the state of science and technology in West Virginia and submit it to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Delegates, the President of the Senate and the joint commission on economic development or before July 1, of each year. The report shall address all aspects of research, development and commercialization that the academy council deems material, including, but not limited to:

(1) Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to West Virginia’s research, development, and commercialization environment and establishments;

(2) Options for actions by the Legislature and the Governor to maximize the ability of the state to attract investment, grants, and infrastructure development to support growth of science and technology research, development, and commercialization in the state;

(3) The status of, and options to improve, scientific and technological entrepreneurship in West Virginia; and

(4) The status of, and options to improve, the collaboration of institutions of higher education in obtaining competitive research awards and grants.

(b) In preparing its annual report, the council may utilize the technical support available to it through the West Virginia Development Office, the West Virginia Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), the West Virginia higher education system, federal and state agencies, and other entities that have an interest in fostering science and technology research, development, and commercialization in this state.

(c) Each month, an academy representative shall meet with legislative and executive leaders to provide updates and information concerning opportunities, issues and progress of science, technology, and commercialization in the state.