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October in Texas means football rivalries, the State Fair and finally some cooler evenings. But thanks to a recent proclamation by Governor Greg Abbott, it also means celebrating Intellectual Property Month in Texas, a recognition of the innovation that fuels our economy, drives medical progress and benefits families across our state.
For Texans, intellectual property (IP) is not an abstract legal concept. It is the foundation that allows researchers, entrepreneurs, and investors to turn ideas into reality. Strong IP protections ensure that innovation is rewarded and that lifesaving breakthroughs — whether in medicine, energy or technology — can reach the people who need them. Without these protections, too many good ideas would never make it off the drawing board.
Nowhere is this more important than in the biopharmaceutical industry. Texas has become a national leader in life sciences, thanks to world-class research institutions, a vibrant private sector and a workforce committed to discovery. These are only a few of the reasons Eli Lilly just selected the Houston area for its next generation pharmaceutical manufacturing facility, which will keep Texas at the forefront of biomedical research and manufacturing.
The biopharmaceutical industry’s presence in Texas is impressive: the industry generates nearly $95 billion in economic output here, directly employs more than 49,000 Texans, and supports over 300,000 jobs statewide when you count the suppliers and vendors who support this ecosystem. In 2022 alone, biopharmaceutical companies worked with more than 2,400 Texas-based vendors, spending more than $2.5 billion with local businesses, including everything from complex research labs to small, family-owned suppliers.
Texans also play a leading role in advancing medical science through clinical trials. More than 6,000 trials have taken place in our state, with more than 2.7 million participants. These are not just numbers — they represent real people who volunteer their time and put their trust in the promise of new therapies. They represent hope for patients and families facing difficult diagnoses and the chance to be part of discoveries that change the course of medicine.
This is an innovation engine that Texans should be proud of, but it is not guaranteed. In Washington, there are ongoing debates that could weaken IP protections and undercut the very system that drives discovery. Policies that diminish patent rights or impose rigid government controls on medicines may sound appealing on the surface, but they risk slowing the progress that patients are counting on. For Texas, they also risk real economic consequences for jobs, research, and investment.
That is why we are urging members of Congress — on both sides of the aisle — to stand firm in support of strong and predictable IP protections. The stakes are clear: protecting intellectual property means protecting Texans, whether it’s a cancer patient in Houston seeking the latest treatment, a family in West Texas benefiting from medical technology, or the next generation of students at toptier Texas universities who are working toward science careers right here at home.
Texas has always been a place where bold ideas can grow, and Intellectual Property Month is a chance to celebrate that tradition. It is also a reminder that if we want to remain a leader in innovation, discovery, and healthcare, we must preserve the framework that makes it possible. Protecting IP keeps Texas competitive, keeps our economy strong, and most importantly, keeps hope alive for patients across our state.
As Governor Abbott stated in his proclamation: “By protecting Intellectual Property rights, we will ensure that our state remains at the forefront of creativity, innovation, and economic growth as we build a bigger, better Texas.”
Victoria Ford, MPA, is President and CEO of the Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institute (THBI