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Public–private contribution to biopharmaceutical discoveries: a bibliometric analysis of biomedical research in UK

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Listed:
  • Gianluca Fabiano

    (Kingston University London)

  • Andrea Marcellusi

    (Kingston University London)

  • Giampiero Favato

    (Kingston University London)

Abstract

Basic research creates new knowledge that fuels technological advances. However, budgetary concerns and escalating R&D prices are challenging organizations to show returns from investments in scientific research. Few attempts are made to analyse research that leads to pharmaceutical innovation. In particular, the financial contribution of public and private organizations to the riskiest stage of biomedical discovery has remained unclear and partially unexplored. This study is a first attempt to shed light on the financial support to basic research by public and private sectors using publications data. We conducted an exploratory analysis of funding acknowledgments on publications authored by the founding scientists of 91 ‘drug originator’ companies in United Kingdom. The nature and distribution of the support acknowledged to the research conducted before the company creation was analysed and the impact of publications and type of support were statistically tested. We found the majority of publications acknowledged public institutions, whereas, commercial organisations were likely to support those with privately affiliated authors. Based on these findings, we discussed the need to foster collaborative research and to set adequate incentives for shared risks and benefits from investments in knowledge creation.

Suggested Citation

  • Gianluca Fabiano & Andrea Marcellusi & Giampiero Favato, 2020. "Public–private contribution to biopharmaceutical discoveries: a bibliometric analysis of biomedical research in UK," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 124(1), pages 153-168, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:124:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1007_s11192-020-03429-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-020-03429-1
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    Cited by:

    1. Fabiano, Gianluca & Marcellusi, Andrea & Favato, Giampiero, 2021. "R versus D, from knowledge creation to value appropriation: Ownership of patents filed by European biotechnology founders," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    2. Rotolo, Daniele & Camerani, Roberto & Grassano, Nicola & Martin, Ben R., 2022. "Why do firms publish? A systematic literature review and a conceptual framework," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(10).
    3. Riad Alharbey & Jong In Kim & Ali Daud & Min Song & Abdulrahman A. Alshdadi & Malik Khizar Hayat, 2022. "Indexing important drugs from medical literature," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 127(5), pages 2661-2681, May.

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