The Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) February 2014 Meeting Report provides a comprehensive overview of critical policy and regulatory developments affecting research institutions, with a particular focus on federal costing policies, contracts and intellectual property, and research compliance and administration. Key topics include the implementation of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Uniform Guidance, which consolidates previous federal regulations into a streamlined framework for managing federal awards. Institutions are advised to establish point persons and collaborative policy review mechanisms to ensure a smooth transition and compliance by the end-of-year implementation deadline. The report emphasizes the significant institutional effort required to interpret the new guidelines, revise policies, update training, and manage communication across campuses, using Stanford’s proactive approach as a model.
In the area of contracts and intellectual property, the meeting addressed intensifying legislative and administrative actions against abusive patent assertion entities (so-called patent trolls) and ongoing debates around transparency in patent ownership. COGR and affiliated higher education stakeholders voiced concerns about compliance burdens and confidentiality regarding proposed PTO regulations, while also engaging with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) on federal commercialization and entrepreneurship initiatives. Regulatory compliance updates included new whistleblower protection requirements, the NIH’s restrictions concerning pornography on federally funded computer networks, anticipated policies on Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC), and continuing efforts to reduce the administrative burden on researchers as highlighted by various federal task forces and National Science Board recommendations. The report concludes by noting increasing governmental attention toward streamlining regulatory requirements and the need for institutions to remain engaged and informed in adapting to evolving compliance landscapes.
