2021 LS&HC Horizons - Flipbook - Page 15
Life Sciences and Health Care Horizons 2021
15
Unique collaborations between academia, industry, and government
The events of 2020 illuminated the importance
of cooperation across industries and disciplines
to advance public health – especially for
COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and
diagnostics. Academic-industry collaboration
is nothing new, but the past year has brought
unprecedented levels of mobilization to these
relationships, both domestically
and internationally.
Moreover, policymakers are visibly focused
on leveraging a combination of government
and private resources to accelerate innovation
and improve health outcomes. Several high
profile public-private initiatives emerged in the
wake of COVID-19, blurring the lines between
stakeholders and completely reshaping the
scientific landscape.
Cooperation across academia, industry,
and government is the new normal. But the
collaborative platforms across each sector
are far from settled, and new models continue
to emerge.
Regulatory complexities abound in governmentfunded projects. For example, protection of
intellectual property and valuable data may be in
tension with the principles of transparency and
openness in federally-sponsored research.
Pressures on corporate budgets and perceptions
of value have companies paying increased
attention to opportunities to partake in
government-funded initiatives. Universityindustry compacts also are on the rise, and
the government has shown willingness to
support them with public investment. However,
organizations that receive federal funds as
recipients, subrecipients, or contractors have
important obligations; some of these obligations
extend to participation in federal projects
even without receipt of federal funds. The
government’s regulation of intellectual property,
data sharing, and conflicts of interest may differ
from how organizations traditionally approach
these areas. Government interest in “foreign
influence” in scientific research also is a factor as
international research collaborations
surge ahead.
Alliances between government, industry, and
academia are imperative in the modern research
environment. To the government’s credit,
myriad programs help to nourish and expand
these interactions, but the government has
limited regulatory flexibility in these projects,
and organizations must be attentive to the
downstream implications.
William Ferreira
Partner, Washington, D.C.
william.ferreira@hoganlovells.com
