University-Industry Relationships: Impact of the Bayh-Dole Act

When the Bayh-Dole Act was passed in 1980, it was intended to strengthen collaboration between universities and industry. Instead, there is good evidence that in practice it has caused many companies to be wary of funding R&D at U.S. universities, and may be driving significant funding to foreign schools. Some of this evidence was persuasively presented by Susan Butts of Dow Chemical in statements before Congress in July 2007. Excellent food for thought.