Joint Statement of BIO, AAU, ACE, APLU, AUTM and COGR on the Supreme Court Decision in Stanford v. Roche
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Tuesday, June 06, 2011) - Today, the United States Supreme Court issued its opinion in the appeal of Stanford University against Roche Diagnostics. This case is of significant interest to the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), Association of American Universities (AAU), American Council on Education (ACE), Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), and Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) because of its potential impact on university technology transfer, on development and commercialization of university-generated basic technology, and on scientific collaborations between university and private-sector scientists.
The biotechnology industry and the university community rely on effective collaborations to make the products of their research and development efforts available to the public. The university’s mission of the discovery and dissemination of new knowledge is complementary to the biotechnology industry’s mission of translating basic science into products to benefit patients, farmers, and consumers. The discoveries arising from university research are most efficiently transformed into valuable new products with the participation of companies willing to invest in the long development process that is often necessary to bring new products to market.
By all accounts, the U.S. system of public-private technology transfer that was established under the 1980 Bayh-Dole Act has been extraordinarily successful in moving university discoveries from experimental laboratories to the marketplace through collaborations with private industry. This system has provided a rich return on public funding for basic research, in the form of countless innovative products that today benefit consumers, create jobs, and contribute to U.S. technological leadership internationally.
Although BIO and the undersigned higher education associations held different views on the Stanford v. Roche case, the organizations are united in the desire to ensure that the U.S. technology transfer system continues to generate these public benefits through the robust provisions of the Bayh-Dole statute. We are committed to working together in light of the Supreme Court’s decision to ensure the continued vibrancy of public-private partnerships and success of our shared objectives.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Biotechnology Industry Organization:
Stephanie Fischer, Director of Communications
(202) 312-9263
sfischer@bio.org
Association of American Universities:
Barry Toic, Vice President of Public Affairs
202-898-7847
barry_toiv@aau.edu
American Council on Education:
Erin Hennessy, Director of Public Affairs
202-939-9367
erin_hennessy@ace.nche.edu
Association of Public and Land-grant Universities:
Paul Hassen, Vice President of Public Affairs
202-478-6073
phassen@aplu.org
Association of University Technology Managers:
Jodi Talley, Marketing and Communications Manager
(847) 559-0846 x237
jtalley@autm.net
Council on Governmental Relations:
Robert Hardy, Director of Contracts and Intellectual Property
(202) 289-6655
rhardy@cogr.edu
Upcoming BIO Events
Partnering for Global Health Forum 2011
June 27, 2011
Washington, DC
BIO International Convention
June 27-30, 2011
Washington, DC
2011 BIO Human Resources Conference
June 26-28, 2011
Washington, DC
The Business Forum at the BIO International Convention
June 28-30, 2011
Washington, DC
BIO India International Partnering Conference
September 21-22, 2011
Hyderabad, India
BIO China International Conference
October 12-13, 2011
Shanghai, China
About BIO
BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world. BIO produces BIOtechNOW, an online portal and monthly newsletter chronicling “innovations transforming our world.” Subscribe to BIOtechNOW.
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