There are several critical components of Gov. Don Carcieri’s “jobs agenda.” One of them revolves around intellectual property. His proposal would level the playing field so that professors and researchers at our state institutions of higher learning compete with counterparts throughout the country in attracting talent to – and building businesses in – Rhode Island.
To date, academic researchers at Rhode Island’s private universities have enjoyed success in commercializing work they have begun during university-sponsored projects. But professors and researchers at URI, RIC and CCRI do not enjoy that same luxury. Current rules prevent those faculty members from recruiting some of the world’s best scientists, because those scientists are affiliated with for-profit businesses.
As a result, our state schools are deprived of some of the best and brightest. And, who knows how many of those scientists are discouraged from even moving to Rhode Island in the first place? The same law simply stifles professors here now, because the incentive to turn their own ideas into a viable product is largely removed.
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Senate President William V. Irons, an East Providence Democrat, and Rep. Kenneth Carter, a North Kingstown Democrat, have introduced companion bills on behalf of Gov. Carcieri. Both pieces of legislation are designed to bring Rhode Island into conformance with national best practices on the commercialization of university intellectual property.
Legislators should adopt these measures quickly so that budding entrepreneurs are no longer hamstrung by antiquated laws that put up roadblocks that only serve as disincentives to creating new products, new companies and new jobs – here in Rhode Island.
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