Universities and the market for intellectual property in the life sciences

The realms of science and technology in the life sciences are converging through the commercialization of university research. Major changes in the mandate of research universities were facilitated by both federal legislation that has pro-moted technology transfer, and the increased reliance of business firms on uni-versity research and development (R&D). This article discusses the primary factors that are blurring the division of labor between industry and academia in the life sciences, and analyzes the consequences for universities of treating knowledge as intellectual property. Universities ’ efforts to enhance the com-mercial value of life sciences research is causing increased politicization of government research funding, a growing winner-take-all contest between the “have ” and “have-not ” universities, and subtle but potentially profound changes in the culture of academic research