Federal Government Relations: Advocacy Strategies At The National Level With Mike Waring
Release Date: 01/10/2024
Innovation Across Borders: Rodrigo del Canto on Global Technology Transfer
AUTM on the Air
In the industry of technology transfer, diverse perspectives from around the world not only help us understand how things work in other countries but also provide fresh ideas for our own organizations. Joining us today is Rodrigo del Canto, Director of Technology Transfer at iCono UDD in Santiago, Chile. Rodrigo del Canto is a seasoned professional in technology transfer and innovation, holding key roles at iCono UDD. With a background in law and public policy, Rodrigo extensively contributes to academia as a professor at Universidad del Desarrollo. He is actively involved in institutional...
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Innovate, Navigate, Communicate: Dr. Sheila Kadura on Transforming Policy into Tech Transfer Triumphs
AUTM on the Air
The influence of Washington D.C. corridor issues on tech transfer (technology transfer) operations significantly affects tech transfer professionals in several key ways. From navigating the regulatory environments of compliance and IP to funding, to ethical considerations, there’s a lot to unpack when it comes to translating policy into practice. I’m excited to talk with Dr. Sheila Kadura as she shares her wealth of knowledge and experience on tech transfer and regulatory policy. Dr. Sheila Kadura serves as Associate General Counsel at the University of Texas System, where she is...
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EDI Guide: Nine Points to Consider for Fostering Greater Inclusion in Innovation
AUTM on the Air
One of our goals at AUTM is to foster greater inclusion in innovation. We are committed to providing guidance to our members and the wider technology transfer community on important global issues. This episode is about one of the newest EDI guides, the Nine Points to Consider for Fostering Greater Inclusion in Innovation. I’m excited to discuss these new guidelines with Almesha Campbell, Jennifer Gottwald, and Jane Muir. Almesha Campbell and Jennifer Gottwald are members of the AUTM Women Inventors’ Special Interest Group (WISIG). They also contributed to the creation of this report. ...
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A Vision for Tomorrow: Yoichi Oshima on IP, Tech Transfer, and Innovation Analysis
AUTM on the Air
In the world of technology transfer, listening to diverse perspectives from across the globe isn't merely about understanding alternative methodologies; it's fundamentally about unlocking fresh ideas that can be integrated into our own organizations. Today, I have the pleasure of speaking with Yoichi Oshima, the Vice President for Government and Industry Relations at Tokyo Tech. With a background in electronics engineering, Yoichi possesses extensive experience in both patent examination and semiconductor-related domains. His career has been marked by various significant roles, including...
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Equality in Academia: Investing in Women for Better Science With Janet, Ulrike, and Ursula
AUTM on the Air
Academia plays a crucial role in societal progress, supported by significant public funds allocated to higher education and research institutions. However, this support is compromised by pervasive sexism within academia, leading to the loss of talented women and impeding scientific advancement. Today, we're addressing a critical issue afflicting academia: sexism and its detrimental effects on science and public funding. Our discussion is inspired by the paper "Sexism In Academia Is Bad For Science And A Waste Of Public Funding," authored by Nicole Boivin, Susanne Täuber, Ulrike Beisiegel,...
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Breaking Barriers: The Untold Stories of Women Inventors With Rebekah Oakes
AUTM on the Air
Women's History Month celebrates the vital contributions of women throughout history and into the present day, marking a period where we honor their achievements and resilience across a multitude of fields, notably in areas like technology transfer and innovation. Women have always been at the heart of driving change, with their innovative inventions, pioneering research, and entrepreneurial zeal. Despite the hurdles of systemic barriers and gender biases, their perseverance has significantly impacted the landscape of tech transfer, leaving a lasting legacy. In today's discussion, we talk...
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Navigating Tech Transfer and Early-Stage Technology Acquisition With Leah Speser
AUTM on the Air
I’m excited to introduce Leah Speser, a seasoned expert in technology transfer and commercialization, currently serving as the Senior Consultant for Knowledge Transfer & Commercialization at the Research and Innovation Foundation of the Republic of Cyprus. Leah's experience and expertise in the world of tech transfer are extensive. She has an impressive career that spans academia, industry, and international development. Today, we’re discussing early-stage technology acquisition opportunities, a topic crucial for anyone looking to stay ahead in the fast-paced world of technology. Leah...
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Shaping A More Inclusive Intellectual Property World With Derrick Brent
AUTM on the Air
Creating positive change in the world of emerging technology requires more than just innovative ideas. It demands a commitment to fostering an environment where everyone, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to contribute and thrive. This means implementing intentional practices, programs, and initiatives aimed at promoting inclusive innovation. By ensuring access for women, people of color, indigenous peoples, individuals with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and other underrepresented groups, we can pave the way for a more successful and inclusive...
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Celebrating Black Entrepreneurial Excellence: A Glimpse into Spelman's Center for Entrepreneurship with Dr. Grant Warner
AUTM on the Air
The entrepreneurial landscape in the United States is rich with talent and innovation, evidenced by the nearly 3.6 million Black-owned businesses, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. These enterprises, which employ around 1.3 million individuals across 4% of these businesses, are a vibrant testament to the resilience, inventiveness, and entrepreneurial drive within Black communities nationwide. Yet, despite their notable impact, Black entrepreneurs face persistent challenges, including limited access to capital, educational resources, networking, and mentorship. These barriers have...
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Immortalizing The Untold Stories of Black Inventors with James Howard of BIHOF
AUTM on the Air
As February unfolds, we're thrilled to kick off a special series in celebration of Black History Month, a time to honor the significant contributions and achievements of African Americans throughout history. Today, we're excited to chat with James Howard, the Executive Director of the Black Inventors Hall of Fame (BIHOF). James Howard wears many hats: he is a college professor, design historian, entrepreneur, industrial designer, inventor, and restaurateur. He brings more than 25 years of teaching experience in design and has created a course on Design Thinking and Design History, examining...
info_outlineThe esteemed Mike Waring, AUTM’s Advocacy and Alliances Coordinator, is back to continue our conversation about national advocacy and federal government relations. Last week, Mike shared strategies for state and local tech transfer.
Advocacy is ultimately about relationships. Your campus federal relations team is the one that creates the relationship between your campus and Congress, so it's crucial to have a good relationship with them. You want them to know who you are and what your issues are. You also want to be a specific resource to help make your case in Washington.
Mike highlights some of the important issues that he and AUTM have been working on, including a NIST request for information about changes in march-in rights. The intention may be to lower drug prices, but it could create problems and tie up innovation.
The PREVAIL Act is a step in the right direction for helping patent holders. There’s also a Section 174 tax problem that AUTM and a small-business coalition are working on to get fixed. Additionally, there's a bill for a study by the GAO to inform Congress about what needs to be addressed.
We discuss strategies for advocating with industry partners on broader concerns, along with educating others and showcasing your research. It all comes back to relationships and working with people in your state to broaden your efforts.
In This Episode:
[01:46] Engaging with federal agencies begins with having a really good relationship with your federal relations team on campus.
[02:47] The federal relations team has a huge list of issues including research funding, oversight, tax law, and more. Having a strong relationship with them will help get your issues addressed.
[04:34] Strategies to use the federal relations team to advance your agenda. Tap into their expertise and be a resource that can be used to make the case to Washington.
[06:26] Mike shares resources to stay informed including being an AUTM member, IP Watchdog and the Bayh-Dole Coalition. Associations like the AAU and APLU are also helpful.
[09:08] How AUTM was involved with legislation that helped the National Science Foundation provide direct grants to tech transfer offices from the federal government.
[11:25] We learn about grant programs and the importance of internal communication in order to participate.
[12:06] Mike talks about the December 8th, 2023 NIST request for information regarding potential changes in the administration of march-in rights.
[12:51] The administration thinks this would lower drug prices, but it would affect every invention and tie-up innovation.
[13:31] AUTM and the organizations they work with are going to comment along with individual universities. The interpretation of the law should not be changed.
[14:44] The PREVAIL Act is endorsed by AUTM. Senator Chris Coons and Senator Thom Tillis on the committee of IP issues are working with us to try and fix this problem.
[16:16] If your university has a senator on the Judiciary Committee, urge them to vote yes when this bill comes up.
[16:35] There's also a large small-business coalition urging congress to fix the section 174 tax problem.
[17:24] There's also a bill that will tell the government accountability office to do a study on how the federal government oversees the tech transfer business.
[18:00] We need to get GAO to tell congress which problems need to be fixed. The goal is to make tech-transfer work better with the federal government.
[19:19] Congress loves to see the government and industry work together. Private industry partners make sense with congress.
[25:11] Coordinate with federal relations people when you have events on campus that can showcase your work.
[26:10] Beware of what's happening and have the facts and figures when it's time for your school to become an advocate.
Resources:
Association of American Universities
Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities
Accelerating Research Translation (ART)