Title: Intellectual property in R&D project under Japanese Bayh-Dole system

Authors: Ryoichi Namikawa

Addresses: School of Policy Study, Chukyo University, Yagoto-Honmachi 101-2, Showa-Ward, Nagoya, 466-8666, Japan

Abstract: The Japanese Bayh-Dole (J-Bayh-Dole) system, which is not supported by detailed rules, etc., has worked frequently and successfully in national R&D projects where various participants| interests are complicated. This paper takes, as a case study, a national R&D project under the J-Bayh-Dole and analyses the process of transferring the intellectual property (IP) to the private sector by dividing it into sub-processes. The analysis clarifies first, that private contracts play an important part in supporting the J-Bayh-Dole in place of detailed rules, etc. and second, that these private contracts are based on the economic relationship among parties. These findings imply that smooth transference of IP to the private sector is underpinned by a nongovernmental and nonprofit project management organisation included in the project organisation.

Keywords: Bayh-Dole; intellectual property; technology transfer; commercialisation; national R&D; universities; consortium; Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry; METI; Japan; research and development; private sector; project management; higher education.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTTC.2010.029422

International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, 2010 Vol.9 No.1/2, pp.9 - 24

Published online: 30 Nov 2009 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article