Category Archives: Sponsored Research

Research administrators protest indirect cost changes

The NIH has proposed to set the indirect cost rate for its grants at 15%. There’s the usual outrage. I don’t feel that outrage, however. I don’t even feel a desire to preserve the present approach to federally supported research. … Continue reading

Posted in Bad Science, Sponsored Research | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Research administrators protest indirect cost changes

Government Funding For Research, 1

Out in Twitterland, I saw this tweet by Brett Blackham: Arguably, research and development is so important that government should have nothing to do with it. However since 1980 a company or university could get government money to do research … Continue reading

Posted in Bad Science, Innovation, Sponsored Research | Tagged , | Comments Off on Government Funding For Research, 1

Five Steps to Restoring an Effective University IP Practice, Step 5

We have been working through five steps to restore a university’s IP practice to something that. might be modestly effective. Abandon AUTM, which has worked for decades against effective IP policy and practices. Abandon compulsory university ownership claims. You may … Continue reading

Posted in Freedom, Policy, Sponsored Research | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Five Steps to Restoring an Effective University IP Practice, Step 5

Five Steps to Restoring an Effective University IP Practice, Step 4

We are working through five steps to getting a university back to an effective IP practice, a practice aligned with academic values and focused on actual technology transfer. The idea of “technology transfer” is bureaucratic in origin. As a concept … Continue reading

Posted in History, Policy, Sponsored Research | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Five Steps to Restoring an Effective University IP Practice, Step 4

The use of the patent system for federal research results, 8: Exploiting the use of the patent system

FSA policy 110, the first agency attempt at making a policy to deal with inventions made in federally supported public health research, tries to establish a middle ground for the use of patents. While clearly endorsing open access, including royalty-free … Continue reading

Posted in Commons, History, Policy, Sponsored Research, Technology Transfer | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The use of the patent system for federal research results, 8: Exploiting the use of the patent system

The use of the patent system for federal research results, 7: Failure of FSA 110-1 to establish a middle ground

Let’s look more carefully at this second possibility beyond the possibility of open access–and where the “generally” in FSA 110-1 gets triggered to make at an attempted middle ground between always open access and full-on use of patents to exclude … Continue reading

Posted in History, Patents, Policy, Sponsored Research | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on The use of the patent system for federal research results, 7: Failure of FSA 110-1 to establish a middle ground

The use of the patent system for federal research results, 3: FSA 110-1 and public interest

Federal policy on inventions made in federally supported research starts in a big way with Federal Security Agency Order 110-1, dated December 30, 1952. Norman Latker, patent counsel for the NIH, in 1978 testimony before Senator Nelson’s subcommittee, identified Order … Continue reading

Posted in Commons, History, Innovation, Open Source, Patents, Policy, Sponsored Research | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The use of the patent system for federal research results, 3: FSA 110-1 and public interest

A sense of proportion–5

One can see, then, where Bayh-Dole comes into play in this meaningless mess. Bayh-Dole was drafted by the same folks who created the IPA system. The IPA system was shut down in 1978 as ineffective and contrary to public policy. … Continue reading

Posted in Bayh-Dole, Fun, History, Policy, Sponsored Research, Technology Transfer | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on A sense of proportion–5

A sense of proportion–3

Prior to federal funding becoming the dominant source of university research funding, most universities operated their invention policies with a review committee that made recommendations to the university president with regard to particular inventions. The volume of invention reporting was … Continue reading

Posted in History, Policy, Sponsored Research, Technology Transfer | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on A sense of proportion–3

A sense of proportion–2

University administrators have engaged in a thirty-year effort of research invention management that creates patent gridlock for what amounts to a tiny bit of the overall inventive activity in the country. That’s the black border area on this nice blue … Continue reading

Posted in Fun, History, Policy, Sponsored Research | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on A sense of proportion–2