Advice from the Top: University research helps USA compete

The Bayh-Dole Act was enacted 27 years ago, but the ramifications persist to this day. The act lets universities patent and commercialize inventions that come from federally funded research. It has gradually turned universities into incubators for breakthroughs in technology and medicine.

Stanford owns the patent on Google’s Internet search technology, and last year, the university earned $48 million from 428 technologies licensed to companies. Texas Instruments was early to recognize the power of university research. The company has partnerships with Rice, Georgia Tech and the University of Illinois, among others, and with universities in India and China. CEO Rich Templeton, 49, spoke with USA TODAY management reporter Del Jones about the R&D coming from colleges. Following are excerpts, edited for clarity and space.

Full Story: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/techinvestor/2008-05-18-texas-instruments-rich-templeton_N.htm