Strengthened ties between industry and academia are historical, productive, and crucial

Scientific collaboration between academia and industry has a long history in the United States and abroad. Initially U.S. companies took responsibility for patenting and licensing discoveries made in collaborating universities. A publicly funded “middle man”, The Research Corporation, was the next paradigm and had the advantages of neutrality and centralization, but proved ultimately unworkable. More recently, universities have negotiated their own patenting and licensing activities. The ethical pitfalls of scientists and physicians dealing directly with industry stimulated much public discussion in the past decade, with a resultant backlash discouraging collaboration. I discuss this evolution, and recent developments with models of possible productive collaboration and rules of engagement.