The Department of Energy, which funds and oversees energy-related research, would be required to team up formally with the Small Business Administration, the federal agency that supports small businesses through loans and other assistance. Together they'd work on joint research and development projects, and they're specifically directed to involve small businesses in that work where it makes sense. The two agencies would also have to report back on what their collaboration has produced so far and where there might be room to combine their expertise further down the line. In practice, this mainly affects small businesses that do energy-related work, potentially giving them new avenues to participate in federally backed research projects.