In some ways, the Bayh-Dole Act saved the United States, and our guest on today’s show played a key role in its adoption. Joe Allen was part of the US Senate Judiciary Committee for Birch Bayh, the senator whose name makes up one part of the Act which was deemed one of the most inspired pieces of legislation that America had seen in half a century. The intention of the Act was to foster R&D partnerships between universities and US industry in order to put an end to the government’s practice of spending billions of dollars on research and then never commercializing it. In today’s episode, Joe shares why the Act was so transformative, as well as the tumultuous journey he and his team went on to get it passed, which, looking back, seems like a miracle. Joe’s impressive career doesn’t end there, and you will also hear about what he achieved in his roles as Executive Director of Intellectual Property Owners Inc., the Director of the Office of Technology Commercialization, the Vice President of the NTCC, the co-founder of the Entrepreneurial Technology Apprentice Program, and now as the owner of Joseph Allen and Associates and Executive Director of the Bayh-Dole Coalition. In This Episode:[00:51] A rundown of the colorful professional life of today’s guest, Joe Allen.[03:36] The fortuitous event which led Joe to be part of the US Senate Judiciary Committee for Birch Bayh. [05:51] Where the idea of the Bayh-Dole Act originated, and Joe’s role in the process. [07:00] The amount of R&D that was government funded at the time the Bayh-Dole Act came into place, and how that has changed since the passing of the Act. [08:08] Why Senator Bayh and Senator Dole were an unusual combination, and why this didn’t matter.[09:36] The crisis that the Bayh-Dole Act saved the United States from.[11:21] Challenges that Joe and his team experienced in getting the bill passed. [13:23] What the invention landscape looked like pre the Bayh-Dole Act.[16:06] The rocky road to adoption of Bayh-Dole Act. [18:05] Joe shares what happened in the final moments of getting the Bayh-Dole Act passed. [23:00] Two questions that Joe was asked just before the bill was cleared. [24:16] How Joe became involved with the IPO, and the work that he did there.[26:34] Why bureaucrats attacked the Bayh-Dole Act, and the office Joe ran that served to uphold it.[28:17] Benefits of the Federal Technology Transfer Act, which Joe was instrumental in the creation of.[31:56] Joe’s introduction to the National Technology Transfer Centre (NTCC), and why he decided to take the opportunity to work there. [32:53] Goals of the NTTC, awards they won, and the training program that they ran. [35:03] Intentions of the Bayh-Dole Coalition that Joe co-founded.[37:18] An explanation of an executive order recently issued by Joe Biden.[38:49] Concerns that Congress had about the Bayh-Dole Act, and the provision which was put in place as a result. [40:22] The paper that came out 20 years after the Bayh-Dole Act was passed, and the concern that it caused.[42:49] A regulation that Congress proposed around march in rights relating to the Bayh-Dole Act.[43:26] How Biden’s executive order potentially threatens the Bayh-Dole Act.[44:40] The number of start-up companies that are continuously being founded because of the Bayh-Dole Act. [45:24] Why Joe is worried about the future of the Bayh-Dole Act. [46:36] The experience that made Joe aware of the lack of diversity in the technology transfer field. [48:22] Joe’s involvement in the Entrepreneurial Technology Apprentice Program (ETAP), which aimed to expose children from underrepresented groups to technology transfer.[50:09] Success of the ETAP pilot program. [51:31] The achievement that Joe is most proud of. Find Joe:EmailThe Bayh-Dole Coalition

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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