Conscience September 2025 Policy Brief - The Trump Administration's Tech Transfer Gambit

The Trump Administration’s Tech Transfer Gambit United States Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated the administration’s desire to receive half of the revenue that universities derive from patents developed with federally funded research. Under the Bayh-Dole Act (35 U.S.C. §§ 200–212), universities retain ownership of patents that are developed with federal funding, creating an incentive for universities to patent and licence technology. The Secretary argues that the profits of this research provide no direct return to the taxpayer, and that by repurposing half of those revenues, the government could address deficit and funding concerns in other areas. This policy brief discusses the current state of returns for university technology transfer, the likely implications for technology transfer in the United States if this policy is enacted broadly, and the possibility of the government seeking equity stakes in university spin-off companies.