The Bayh-Dole Bulletin | Edition 21
Bayh-Dole Bulletin: Edition 21
Welcome to the Bayh-Dole Bulletin, a monthly newsletter from the Bayh-Dole Coalition. The Bayh-Dole Coalition is a 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.
If you were forwarded this email and would like to receive future communications, please join our mailing list here.
About the Bayh-Dole Coalition
A Word From Our Executive Director
The Bayh-Dole Coalition is off to a fast start in 2026! Perhaps most importantly, we’re getting signals from multiple sources that our campaign — warning the Trump Administration that the idea of having the government seize half of academic patent royalties generated under Bayh-Dole is a serious mistake both economically and politically — is making an impact. It’s still important that we continue to educate policy leaders in Washington, the media, and the general public about how fragile our system is and the tremendous benefits it quietly generates, protecting our economy and general well-being. Please see our one-pager on the issue and my recent article for more information.
To support this work, we just added Ed Stewart, a seasoned Washington veteran, who will be working closely with Kate Beale as part of our government affairs team. Ed brings more than 30 years of experience in congressional affairs, trade and foreign policy, advising major corporations, trade associations, and governments on complex advocacy efforts at the highest levels.
We are hosting a Capitol Hill event on February 4 on Bayh-Dole and small businesses, where House Small Business Committee Chairman Roger Williams (R-TX-25) will share remarks. Kelly Loeffler, the Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, graciously agreed to join us as well for a fireside chat. You can learn more about it on our website.
We are also having a luncheon for our members at the AUTM annual meeting on February 10. We hope to see many of you there!
Finally, we’re still taking nominations for our 2026 American Innovator Award. If you know someone whose story epitomizes the hard work, dedication, and sacrifice required to turn a federally funded invention into a useful product, please nominate them. Here is the link to do so.
It’s going to be a busy year, but we’re off to a great start!
January Coalition Highlights
- Op-Ed: Fred Reinhart, Detroit News, “Federal proposal would gut Michigan innovation and jobs” (1/15)
- Article: MLex, “Bipartisan US Senate bill pushes quantum investment expansion” (1/15)
- Op-Ed: Louis Berneman, The Patriot-News, “Why does the Commerce Department want to gut Pennsylvania’s high-tech economy?” (1/15)
- Op-Ed: Teri Willey, The Times of Northwest Indiana, “Indiana loses if Washington takes university royalties” (1/11)
- Op-Ed: Dr. Dennis Liotta, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “Despite Trump Cabinet member’s claim, taxpayer-funded science pays dividends” (1/5)
- Op-Ed: Joseph P. Allen, IPWatchdog, “Secretary Lutnick’s Royalty Grab: Bad for America — and the Administration” (1/4)
- Op-Ed: Dr. Jesse Crosson, Indianapolis Star, “Don’t gut the Birch Bayh law that spawned American innovation” (1/4)
- Public Comment: Bayh-Dole Coalition Comments on OSTP RFI re: Accelerating American Scientific Enterprise (12/23)
Upcoming Events & Coalition Priorities
On Wednesday, February 4, from 11:30 AM-1:30 PM ET, the Bayh-Dole Coalition will host an event on Capitol Hill: “U.S. Innovation Leadership Depends on Small Businesses and Bayh-Dole.”
House Small Business Committee Chairman Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX-25) will share remarks, followed by a fireside chat with Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Kelly Loeffler. Afterward, the event will feature a panel discussion between leading voices on small business, Bayh-Dole, innovation, and technology transfer. Speakers include:
- Jere Glover: Former Chief Counsel for Advocacy at the Small Business Administration, who was instrumental in passing Bayh-Dole and creating SBIR/STTR, and current Executive Director of the Small Business Technology Council
- Karen Kerrigan: President & CEO of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council
- Jennifer Pagán: Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of AquiSense Technologies
- Ashlyn Roberts: Vice President of Government Affairs at the National Venture Capital Association
- Joe Allen (Moderator): Executive Director of the Bayh-Dole Coalition
The panel discussion will examine how small businesses are vital to the American economy — and explore how Bayh-Dole empowers small businesses to be at the forefront of discovery, public-private partnerships, and commercializing research. Panelists will also discuss Bayh-Dole and small businesses’ lasting impact on the U.S. economy and national security — and will dive into why protecting and sustaining Bayh-Dole is pivotal in today’s competitive global environment.
Additionally, the nomination deadline for the 2026 American Innovator Award has been extended! Submissions are now due Friday, February 13. We invite you to nominate individuals or small teams who have been instrumental in moving federally funded inventions from the lab to the marketplace — including inventors, licensing professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, and others who help the Bayh-Dole system thrive.
Learn more and nominate an innovator here or below!
Member Corner
- Tufts University Office of the Vice Provost for Research
- Michael H. Brodowski, PhD, Partner, Cantor Colburn LLP
- Harmen Steele, PhD, Commercialization Manager, UNC-Chapel Hill Office of Technology Commercialization
- Baldassare Vinti, Partner and Head of IP Litigation, Proskauer Rose LLP
- 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.
- The Bayh-Dole Coalition will be hosting a members-only luncheon on Tuesday, February 10, in Seattle, Washington, as part of the 2026 AUTM Annual Meeting. If you’re a Bayh-Dole Coalition member, please RSVP by January 30.
- From March 22-24, 2026, IPWatchdog will host its 6th annual IPWatchdog LIVE conference! This program brings together the IP community from around the world, giving attendees the opportunity to discuss issues facing the industry.
- On Tuesday, March 24, at 9:15 AM ET, IPWatchdog Live will feature a session with Joe Allen, Kate Hudson, and Patrick Kilbride: “Preserving Bayh-Dole to Protect U.S. Economic and Technological Leadership.”
- From October 18-21, 2026, Licensing Executives Society USA-Canada will host its 2026 Annual Meeting in San Diego! The program will deliver in-depth content, networking, keynotes, panel discussions, roundtables, and hands-on workshops designed to help you stay ahead in today’s fast-moving IP landscape.
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
Our January member spotlight is John Fraser! John is president of Burnside Development, a consulting firm that advises universities, research institutions, and policymakers on technology commercialization and innovation strategy. He previously served as executive director of commercialization at Florida State University, where he spent nearly two decades building and leading one of the Southeast’s most active university tech transfer operations, and he’s also a Past President of AUTM. Recently, John authored a piece published by the Orlando Sentinel examining how Secretary Lutnick’s proposed university patent royalty tax could stall America’s research-to-market pipeline.
“The Bayh-Dole Act creates the certainty and incentives needed to turn federally funded academic research into real-world solutions. Universities have the ability to steward their own inventions, while private-sector partners are invited to invest, scale, and deliver impact. That balance has powered startup formation, industry collaboration, job creation, and economic growth across the country. Proposals like a tax on federally supported university patents risk introducing friction into a system that depends on long-term investment and trust. Bayh-Dole works because it aligns public research with private expertise to benefit the public — and preserving that framework ensures the next generation of discoveries can reach the communities they’re meant to serve.” — John Fraser, President, Burnside Development
Get Involved
If you’re interested in formally joining the Bayh-Dole Coalition or donating to our organization, please do so below!