Part 1 of this course dives into the foundational concepts that ignite and shape innovation. Through Modules 1 and 2, you'll explore the historical context that led to the groundbreaking Bayh-Dole Act, a pivotal piece of legislation that revolutionized the landscape of technology transfer and commercialization.

Module 1: A Need for Change explores the historical challenges that stifled innovation prior to the Bayh-Dole Act. It outlines the pre-Act era where government ownership of federally funded research led to underutilized inventions, highlighting the need for legislative reform to facilitate technology transfer and commercialization.

Module 2: Building a Framework for Innovation delves into the specifics of the Bayh-Dole Act, explaining its key provisions that revolutionized the management of federally funded inventions. This module focuses on how the Act empowered universities and small businesses, recognized inventors' contributions, and ensured public access to innovations.

By completing Part 1, you'll gain a solid foundation in the historical context, motivations, and key players involved in fostering innovation. This lays the groundwork for exploring practical tools and strategies for navigating the exciting world of innovation in the modules to come.