Public Engagement

Yesterday I wrote about the indictment of American research universities by Jennifer Washburn in her book University, Inc.: The Corporate Corruption of Higher Education. I think it’s worth noting her proposed solutions (p. 228):

1. 'the creation of independent third-party licensing bodies … that would assume control over university tech-transfer and commercialization activities nationwide;


2. an amendment to the Bayh-Dole Act clarifying that the true intent of the legislation is to promote widespread use of taxpayer-financed research, not to maximize short-term profits;


3. new requirements that all federally funded university scholars comply with strict conflict-of-interest laws;


4. the creation of a new federal agency to administer and monitor industry-sponsored clinical drug trials submitted to the Food and Drug Administration."

Each of these strikes me as plausible and desirable, yet unlikely to fully reach the desired results:

1. Would those few universities (the University of Minnesota is one) that make a substantial profit from inventions be willing to participate? Could/should they be forced to?
2. If exclusive licenses are not granted, will companies be willing to commercialize inventions?
3. Conflict-of-interest regulations are already in place in most research universities, but seem not to have the desired effect.
4. Given increasisng lobbyist and corporate influence over the FDA, EPA, etc. under the current administration, do we really expect a new federal agency to improve things?

I think more far-reaching changes in both corporate influence on government and the willingness of the public to more adequately support higher education will be necessary to reach the goal.