On Dec. 12, 1980, a bill to amend title 35 of the United States Code (H.R.6933, Public Law: 96-517), known as the Bayh-Dole Act passed the U.S. Congress and provided for the legal transfer of research and technology originating from U.S. universities and federal laboratories to private companies for commercialization.

This legislation was co-sponsored by Senators Birch Bayh (D-Indiana) and Robert Dole (R-Kansas).

Technology transfer offices are now common at universities, non-profit research organizations and federal laboratories, and are the technology foundation for a significant number of life science companies in the U.S.