Public funding is fueling innovation across biotech, AI, energy, semiconductors, and defense—but government money comes with strings attached. For licensing professionals, understanding how federal funding reshapes IP rights is critical to protecting value and avoiding unpleasant surprises.

This roundtable will examine 10 high-impact IP considerations in government-funded R&D and licensing transactions, using short hypotheticals and real-world examples to spark discussion. Speakers will include representatives from private industry, academia, and government contracts practice to provide multiple vantage points on risk, compliance, and deal strategy.

Discussion topics will include:

• How Bayh-Dole actually works in practice (and common misconceptions)
• The scope of the government’s nonexclusive license and its downstream implications
• Managing data rights in defense and dual-use technologies
• SBIR/STTR-specific IP considerations
• Structuring sublicenses when subject inventions are involved
• Navigating joint development agreements with mixed funding sources
• Handling diligence disclosures and post-closing risk in M&A
• Publication rights vs. trade secret protection in university collaborations

Participants will walk away with:

• A framework for evaluating how government funding affects exclusivity and commercialization strategy
• A working “Top 10” issue-spotting guide for licensing professionals
• Practical contract-drafting approaches to mitigate common risks
• Insight into how in-house counsel and universities evaluate and negotiate these issues

Whether you represent licensors, licensees, universities, startups, or established companies, this session will help you structure government-involved deals with confidence—and class.