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Firm strategic behavior and the measurement of knowledge flows with patent citations

Author

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  • Marco Corsino
  • Myriam Mariani
  • Salvatore Torrisi

Abstract

Research Summary This research addresses firms' use of external knowledge sources to develop patented inventions and explores the validity of patent citations as an indicator of interfirm knowledge flows. By comparing patent citations with primary data reported by the inventors, we uncover systematic measurement errors in patent citations and show that they depend on the firms' patent strategies (e.g., to reduce the risk of imitation or litigation), the source of knowledge employed (e.g., competitors, users), the technology of the underlying invention, and the institutional characteristics of the patent system. Our findings about the role of these factors in external knowledge sourcing and citing propensity highlight the importance of firms' strategic behavior and offer novel insights for the use of patent citations as an indicator of knowledge flows. Managerial Summary Firms' open innovation strategies rely on the sourcing of knowledge from other organizations. Tracing these knowledge flows is difficult, such that the empirical research on this matter typically uses citations that patents make to prior art in order to track them. However, patent citations might be added also for reasons other than the actual transfer of knowledge. We use primary information from a large survey of inventors to assess the accuracy of patent citations to measure knowledge flows, and we find evidence of measurement errors that depend on the applicants' patent strategies, the type of knowledge sources used, the filing jurisdiction, and the technology of the underlying invention. We offer insights to evaluate the settings in which patent citations are a reliable measure of knowledge flows.

Suggested Citation

  • Marco Corsino & Myriam Mariani & Salvatore Torrisi, 2019. "Firm strategic behavior and the measurement of knowledge flows with patent citations," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(7), pages 1040-1069, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:stratm:v:40:y:2019:i:7:p:1040-1069
    DOI: 10.1002/smj.3016
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Mario Kafouros & Niron Hashai & Janja Annabel Tardios & Elizabeth Yi Wang, 2022. "How do MNEs invent? An invention-based perspective of MNE profitability," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(7), pages 1420-1448, September.
    2. Nawal Abdalla Adam & Hind Alofaysan, 2023. "External Knowledge Flows and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises’ Innovation Capabilities Enhancement: An Empirical Investigation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-14, February.
    3. Büttner, Benjamin & Firat, Murat & Raiteri, Emilio, 2022. "Patents and knowledge diffusion," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(10).
    4. Georgios Tsiachtsiras & Deyun Yin & Ernest Miguelez & Rosina Moreno, 2022. ""Trains of Thought: High-Speed Rail and Innovation in China"," IREA Working Papers 202220, University of Barcelona, Research Institute of Applied Economics, revised Nov 2022.
    5. Gambardella, Alfonso, 2023. "Private and social functions of patents: Innovation, markets, and new firms," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(7).
    6. Arkadiusz Świadek & Jadwiga Gorączkowska & Karolina Godzisz, 2022. "Conditions Driving Eco-Innovation in a Catching-Up Country—ICT vs. Industry in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-21, July.
    7. Verluise, Cyril & Cristelli, Gabriele & Higham, Kyle & de Rassenfosse, Gaetan, 2020. "The Missing 15 Percent of Patent Citations," SocArXiv x78ys, Center for Open Science.
    8. Bahoo-Torodi, Aliasghar & Torrisi, Salvatore, 2022. "When do spinouts benefit from market overlap with parent firms?," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 37(6).
    9. Patrick Haslanger & Erik E. Lehmann & Nikolaus Seitz, 2023. "The performance effects of corporate venture capital: a meta-analysis," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(6), pages 2132-2160, December.
    10. Manuel Acosta & Daniel Coronado & Esther Ferrándiz & Manuel Jiménez, 2022. "Effects of knowledge spillovers between competitors on patent quality: what patent citations reveal about a global duopoly," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 47(5), pages 1451-1487, October.
    11. Kwon, Seokbeom, 2021. "The prevalence of weak patents in the United States: A new method to identify weak patents and the implications for patent policy," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    12. Seung Hwan Kim & Bogang Jun & Jeong-Dong Lee, 2023. "Technological relatedness: how do firms diversify their technology?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 128(9), pages 4901-4931, September.
    13. Steffen Runge & Christian Schwens & Matthias Schulz, 2022. "The invention performance implications of coopetition: How technological, geographical, and product market overlaps shape learning and competitive tension in R&D alliances," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(2), pages 266-294, February.
    14. Chih-Yi, Su & Bou-Wen, Lin, 2021. "Attack and defense in patent-based competition: A new paradigm of strategic decision-making in the era of the fourth industrial revolution," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    15. Kyle HIGHAM & NAGAOKA Sadao, 2022. "Language Barriers and the Speed of Knowledge Diffusion," Discussion papers 22074, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).

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