EXCLUSIVE-Harvard patents targeted by Trump administration

By Jonathan Stempel

Aug 8 (Reuters) - The Trump administration on Friday ordered a comprehensive review of Harvard University's federally funded research programs, and threatened to take title to or grant licenses from the school's lucrative portfolio of patents.

In a letter to University President Alan Garber and obtained by Reuters, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick accused Harvard of breaching its legal and contractual requirements tied to the research programs and patents.

Lutnick also said the Commerce Department has begun a "march-in" process under the federal Bayh-Dole Act that could let the government take ownership of or grant licenses to Harvard's patents.

That law ensures that Americans benefit from inventions funded through taxpayer dollars, a senior administration official said.

The letter demands that Harvard provide by September 5 a list of all patents stemming from federally funded research grants, including how the patents are used and whether any licensing requires "substantial U.S. manufacturing."

Harvard did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

As of July 1, 2024, Harvard held more than 5,800 patents, and had more than 900 technology licenses with over 650 industry partners, according to a university website.

President Donald Trump has made bolstering the country's manufacturing and economic competitiveness a priority of his second White House term, including by raising tariffs on dozens of countries.

The letter ratchets up the White House's pressure on Harvard, which it has accused of civil rights violations for failing to address antisemitism on campus.

Harvard sued in April after the administration began stripping or freezing billions of dollars of federal research money.

Other schools that have faced funding losses have included Columbia University, which last month agreed to pay more than $220 million to settle the government's antisemitism claims.

The New York Times has said Harvard was open to spending up to $500 million to settle similar claims.

Many civil rights experts, faculty and White House critics believe the administration's targeting of schools is a pretext to assert federal control and threaten academic freedom and free speech.