"An Act relating to contracts between the University of Alaska and its employees involving research or other development of intellectual property and to the authority of the president of the University of Alaska regarding employee contracts for development of intellectual property."

HB 282 will give the President of the University of Alaska authority to enter into contracts with employees involved in research and development of intellectual property. These contracts would allow both the employee and the University to benefit from businesses associated with that development.

Nearly 57 percent of all research conducted in Alaska is on one of the University's campuses. HB 282 will allow the University an opportunity to realize the full potential of those efforts. The University is a leader in areas such as geophysical, arctic research and new initiatives such as the Center for Nanoscience Technology. This type of technical research is cutting edge, and the benefits could well be staggering.

As an example, if the University had been involved in the development of the operating system software you use on your office computer. It would certainly eliminate the need for them to visit each year asking for funding.

This type of technology advancement continues today, and with the passage of HB 282 our University system could be a leader in funding for, and developing the very tools we use daily. Funding that would be coming from the business side of research, not the general fund.

HB 282 allows the University of Alaska to compete on an equal footing with other major campuses already combining research and business to fund future research. It opens the door to advancements in technology that could bring new high-tech jobs to Alaska as well as millions of new dollars to the University.

Last Updated: 05-15-03

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