Event

Friday, December 6, 2024 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET

Video Webinar

Event Summary

On December 6, 2024 from 1-2 pm ET, the Bayh-Dole Coalition will host a webinar, “Unleashing America’s Entrepreneurs: The Bayh-Dole Formula for Economic Prosperity.” We will discuss how the Bayh-Dole Act plays a crucial role in bolstering the U.S. economy and our international competitiveness. The discussion will be moderated by Executive Director, Joseph P. Allen, and feature the following expert panelists:

• Almesha Campbell, assistant vice president for Research and Economic Development at Jackson State University
• Walter Copan, vice president for Research and Technology Transfer at the Colorado School of Mines
• Brian Darmody, chief strategy officer at the Association of University Research Parks
• Franck Journoud, senior director of Technology Policy at the National Association of Manufacturers

Prior to the Bayh-Dole Act, the federal government retained all patents resulting from taxpayer-funded research — and it licensed less than 5% of those inventions. The Bayh-Dole Act, in turn, empowered universities and other research institutions to license and commercialize their innovations originating from federal funding and, now, 30% of federally funded patents are licensed for additional development. In the last two decades alone, Bayh-Dole-generated innovation has contributed $1 trillion to the U.S. GDP, supported 6.5 million jobs, and helped launch over 17,000 start-ups.

Join us in discussing the lasting and growing legacy of the Bayh-Dole Act on the American economy and innovation. Join us in discussing the lasting and growing legacy of the Bayh-Dole Act on the American economy and innovation — as well as how the new Administration and Congress must maintain and defend this system.

Register for the video webinar here.

Joseph P. Allen (Moderator)

Joe is the executive director of the Bayh-Dole Coalition. As a professional staffer on the Senate Judiciary Committee to Sen. Birch Bayh (D-IN), he played a key role in the successful passage of the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980 and its subsequent amendments. He later served as the director of the Office of Technology Commercialization at the Department of Commerce, which oversaw the implementation of Bayh-Dole and chaired the Interagency Committee on Technology Transfer.

Almesha Campbell

Almesha is the Assistant Vice President for Research and Economic Development at Jackson State University (JSU). For over 10 years, she served as the Director for Technology Transfer and Commercialization at JSU and continues to manage the intellectual property process. She was elected a chair of the AUTM Board of Directors from 2023 to 2024 and also holds membership in professional organizations such as the Licensing Executives Society, Society of Research Administrators (SRA) International, the American Society of Public Administration, and is an honorary member of the National Academy of Inventors.

Walter G. Copan

Walt is Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado. He previously served as Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and 16th Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a position to which he was confirmed unanimously by the Senate. Dr. Copan is a distinguished leader with wide-ranging experience spanning large company, venture capital, entrepreneurial tech startup, U.S. government, non-profit, and other public sector settings. Among the many accolades he has received, Walt was recognized with the 2022 Baldrige Foundation Award for Leadership Excellence in Government.

Brian Darmody

Brian is CEO of the Association of University Research Parks (AURP), a global nonprofit building communities of innovation in 42 states and 12 countries sponsored by universities, hospital systems, government labs and cities. Previously, he was the University’s AVP for Corporate and Foundation Relations in the Division of University Relations, AVP for Research and Economic Development, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Technology Development, Director of State and Federal Relations in the President’s Office and has served in the university’s legal counsel office. He serves on national and state boards, including Fraunhofer USA, and the Maryland Technology Corporation Venture Board.

Franck Journoud

Franck is the Senior Director of Technology policy at the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). Franck Journoud joined the NAM in January 2024 to lead its policy development and advocacy on all issues related to technology–including artificial intelligence, privacy, cyber, innovation and telecom — as well as immigration and intellectual property. Prior to the NAM, Franck was Vice President of Federal Affairs and Technology Policy for the Motion Picture Association (MPA), where he led global advocacy on issues at the intersection of technology and public policy.