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International patenting decisions: empirical evidence with Spanish firms

Author

Listed:
  • Pilar Beneito

    (University of Valencia and ERICES)

  • María Engracia Rochina-Barrachina

    (University of Valencia and ERICES)

  • Amparo Sanchis

    (University of Valencia and ERICES)

Abstract

This paper analyses the determinants of firms’ decisions to patent abroad. We use data spanning 2005–2013 of Spanish firms from PITEC, a panel database carried out by the INE (The National Statistics Institute). We focus on patenting firms and consider that firms’ decisions to apply for patents in foreign patent offices may be driven by two kinds of motivations: first, to exploit the patent in international markets where there is potential demand for the invention and, second, to protect the invention abroad when the quality of the invention is high enough. In the first case we refer to market-driven determinants and, in the second case, to innovation type-driven determinants. We empirically analyse these factors using information on firms’ sales in different geographic international markets, and also indicators of the quality and scope of the innovations. We distinguish among EPO, USPTO and PTC patents, and estimate, first, a multivariate probit model to determine the factors underlying the decision to apply for patents in these foreign offices. Second, we estimate a multivariate model to explain the shares of patent applications in each one of the offices.

Suggested Citation

  • Pilar Beneito & María Engracia Rochina-Barrachina & Amparo Sanchis, 2018. "International patenting decisions: empirical evidence with Spanish firms," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 35(2), pages 579-599, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:epolit:v:35:y:2018:i:2:d:10.1007_s40888-018-0105-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s40888-018-0105-7
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    Cited by:

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    2. Cai, Helen (Huifen) & Sarpong, David & Tang, Xiaoyun & Zhao, Guiqin, 2020. "Foreign patents surge and technology spillovers in China (1985–2009): Evidence from the patent and trade markets," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    3. Ma, Ding & Yu, Qian & Li, Jing & Ge, Mengni, 2021. "Innovation diffusion enabler or barrier: An investigation of international patenting based on temporal exponential random graph models," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    4. Wei Yang & Xiang Yu & Ben Zhang & Ziyang Huang, 2021. "Mapping the landscape of international technology diffusion (1994–2017): network analysis of transnational patents," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 46(1), pages 138-171, February.
    5. Reher, Leonie & Runst, Petrik & Thomä, Jörg, 2022. "Personality and regional innovativeness: An empirical analysis of German patent data," ifh Working Papers 39/2022, Volkswirtschaftliches Institut für Mittelstand und Handwerk an der Universität Göttingen (ifh).
    6. Bachar Moussa & Nikos C. Varsakelis, 2022. "Causality Between International Trade and International Patenting: A Combination of Network Analysis and Granger Causality," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 50(1), pages 9-26, June.
    7. Aparna Sharma & Ruchi Sharma & Sidheswar Panda, 2022. "The role of technological capabilities and gap in the cross-country patenting: an empirical investigation," International Economics and Economic Policy, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 1-27, February.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    International patenting; Market-driven determinants; Innovation type-driven determinants; Firm-level data; Multivariate models;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • C30 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - General
    • O34 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Intellectual Property and Intellectual Capital

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