The Bayh–Dole Act, Technology Transfer and the Public Interest

Passed to stimulate innovation and economic growth in 1980, the Bayh–Dole Act caused research universities in the USA to increase their focus on patenting and licensing activities. While Bayh–Dole appears to have led to an escalation in licensing and patenting applications through technology transfer offices, some question the Act's utility and influence with regard to the traditional mission of the university. This paper describes the Act's operation and influence, and analyses its consequences for academia, industry and the mission of research universities.