► We address various aspects of academic entrepreneurship in the 30th anniversary of the Bay-Dole act. ► We describe the evolving role of universities in the commercialization of research results over the last 30 years. ► We synthesize papers from the special section and outline an agenda for future research. On the 30th anniversary of enactment of the Bayh–Dole Act in the U.S., we consider the rationale for academic entrepreneurship and describe the evolving role of universities in the commercialization of research. We also discuss and appraise the effects of legislative reform in several OECD countries relating to academic entrepreneurship. The article synthesizes papers from the special section and outlines an agenda for additional research on various aspects of academic entrepreneurship in terms of system, university and individual levels. We also consider measurement and methodological issues that must be addressed in additional research.