The Bayh-Dole Bulletin | Edition 18

Welcome to the Bayh-Dole Bulletin, a monthly newsletter from the Bayh-Dole Coalition. The Bayh-Dole Coalition is a diverse group of innovation-oriented organizations and individuals committed to celebrating and protecting the Bayh-Dole Act, as well as informing policymakers and the public of its many benefits.

About the Bayh-Dole Coalition

A Word From Our Executive Director

In Chinese, the character for “danger” is popularly translated as “opportunity.” That aptly describes the situation we face today. It wasn’t long ago that not many were aware of the Bayh-Dole Act and its importance to the nation, but that’s no longer the case. We’re now on the radar screen of national policymakers, the media, and the general public.

Proposals for the government to seize half of patent royalties from university inventions it helps fund and the NIH’s adoption of Biden-era intramural licensing guidelines, which threaten the development of critically needed therapies, are generating lots of attention. While these issues are still pending, we are winning the messaging war.

Not long ago, who would have imagined that the Wall Street Journal would run my op-ed on why Sec. Lutnick’s idea of royalty-taking threatens U.S. innovation? Or that the Washington Post would run a story on the important drugs and vaccines developed under Bayh-Dole? Or that University World News would run a story on the strong reaction to Sec. Lutnick’s idea, highlighting our recent webinar and member survey? But they all did — and it’s making an impact. And it’s also telling that there are few stories defending these attacks on Bayh-Dole.

Another interpretation of the Chinese character cited above is “change point.” We have several high-level events in the works to make sure that change point breaks our way. We’re in the mainstream now thanks to the threats we face. But remember that also means we have unprecedented opportunities as well.

October Coalition Highlights

• Article: American Institute of Physics, “Commerce Moves to Take Cut of Research Patents” (10/21)
• Article: Inside Health Policy, “Commerce Threat To Claim University Patents Sparks Innovation Worries” (10/20)
• Article: University World News, “Leaders against proposed tax on licensed patent royalties” (10/16)
• Article: WisBusiness, “University research would likely decline if government took patent royalties” (10/14)
• Article: Life Sciences IP Review, “‘Death knell’ for investment: Universities warn against Lutnick’s royalty sharing proposal” (10/13)
• Article: Charlotte Magazine, “Charlottean Jennifer Pagán Has Revolutionized Water Filtration” (10/13)
• Webinar: Does the Government Receive an ROI for Academic Inventions? (10/9)
• Press Release: Bayh-Dole Coalition Shares Member Survey Responses on Secretary Lutnick’s Royalty-Sharing Proposal (10/8)
• Infographic: Government Royalty-Sharing Proposal for Academic Patents Threatens U.S. Innovation (10/8)

Upcoming Events & Coalition Priorities

On October 9, the Bayh-Dole Coalition hosted a timely webinar examining a critical question: Does the government receive an ROI for academic inventions? Moderated by Bayh-Dole Coalition Executive Director Joseph P. Allen, the conversation featured a panel of distinguished experts:

• Walter G. Copan — Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer at the Colorado School of Mines & former Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and 16th Director of NIST
• Teri F. Willey — Past President of AUTM, Former Vice President of Technology & Business Development at Mount Sinai Medical Center, and current Managing Director at Pathway to Cures
• Brian Darmody — Chief Strategy Officer of the Association of University Research Parks

The conversation followed Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s recent proposal that the federal government take a substantial share of patent royalties from university inventions it helps fund — a move panelists warned would unravel the innovation system that has powered U.S. competitiveness and delivered life-saving technologies for 45 years under the Bayh-Dole Act.

Thank you to everyone who attended! View the full recording and transcript on our website, YouTube channel, or below. ⬇️

Reinforcing these ideas, the Coalition recently released the results of our member survey regarding Secretary Lutnick’s proposal. Respondents from academia, industry, and investment communities warned it would undermine innovation, discourage private investment, and ultimately harm taxpayers — the very stakeholders Bayh-Dole was designed to benefit. Key findings include:

• 100% of respondents said government royalty seizure would generate less federal revenue than the current system;
• 94% of respondents said universities would struggle to maintain current licensing levels;
• 33% already have difficulty covering technology transfer costs under Bayh-Dole.

Check out our press release and infographic summarizing the findings.

Member Corner

• Montana Bioscience Alliance
• Andrew Dennis, Ph.D., Associate VP of the Office of Technology Commercialization at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
• Benjamin Keim, Patent Attorney and Partner at Newport IP, LLC
• Gene Prat, Ph.D., Chief of Staff to Senator Hayakawa (R-CA) when Bayh-Dole passed in 1980

Member Events

• From November 17-19, 2025, Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) will host its IP Conference in Palm Springs, CA! The event will be focused specifically on IP in biotechnology, featuring the latest insights from biotech IP experts, as well as networking events designed to promote discussion and foster relationships among industry colleagues.
• From February 8-11, 2026, AUTM will host its 2026 Annual Meeting in Seattle, WA! With more than 80 educational workshops and roundtable discussions, global technology transfer professionals will meet and gain insights from world-class speakers, be inspired, and reinvigorate their own professional development.

If you are interested in becoming a member, please apply here! If you are a member and your organization has an upcoming event, submit the information here to be featured in our newsletter and events calendar.

Member Spotlight

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Our October member spotlight is the Indiana Life Sciences Association! Since 1994, the Indiana Life Sciences Association has been the leading advocate and connector for Indiana’s thriving life sciences sector — one of the most advanced biotech clusters in the nation. Representing a portion of the 3,200 companies that produce nearly $100 billion in economic output, ILSA plays a vital role in advancing life science innovation and collaboration, as well as economic growth across the state and beyond. The Bayh-Dole Coalition is proud to count ILSA as a member!

“The Indiana life science ecosystem is one of the strongest examples of successful innovation and positive impact driven by the Bayh-Dole Act. By enabling universities, federal labs, and small businesses across the country to partner with private industry for commercialization, Bayh-Dole ensures that scientific discoveries can become life-saving treatments and technologies. This framework is a cornerstone of America’s innovation economy and a model that continues to deliver extraordinary returns. We must uphold and defend the Bayh-Dole system that makes this progress possible. The Indiana Life Sciences Association is proud to support the Bayh-Dole Coalition and its efforts to protect the law that changes ideas into impact.” — Kristin Jones, President and CEO, Indiana Life Sciences Association