The Industrial Innovation And Technology Act

Since the early 1980s, universities in the United States have greatly expanded their patenting and licensing activities. The Congressional Joint Economic Committee, among other authorities, have argued that this surge contributed to the economic boom of the 1990s. And, many observers have attributed this trend to the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980. Using quantitative analysis and detailed case studies, this book tests that conventional wisdom and assesses the effects of the Act, examining the diverse channels through which commercialization has occurred over the 20th century and since the passage of the Act.

Technology can contribute to economic growth and productivity increases. Legislative activity over the past 25 or more years has created a policy for technology development. Because of the lack of consensus on the scope and direction of a national policy, Congress has taken an incremental approach aimed at creating new mechanisms to facilitate technological advancement in particular areas and making changes and improvements as necessary. Contents of this report: (1) Technol. and Competitive.; (2) The Fed. Role in Technology Development; (3) Legislative Initiatives and Current Programs: Increased R&D Spending: Industry-Univ. Coop. Efforts; Joint Industrial Research; Commercializing Federally Funded R&D; Different Approach?

In 1988, a major survey was commissioned regarding intellectual property rights in Canada and reporting on the attitudes and practices of more than 700 Canadian companies with respect to Canada's intellectual property rights system. The company survey was supplemented with more than 110 interviews with industry associations and research institutes across Canada. This discussion paper summarizes the findings of the company survey and focuses on the particular situation of advanced-technology companies. It puts the survey findings in the broad context of industrial innovation and intellectual property policy and law, at both the domestic and international levels. Findings of the association interviews are used to supplement the survey where appropriate.