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University Patenting and its Effects on Academic Research

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Abstract

The paper explores the possible consequences for academic research of increased patenting in European universities. It underlines that most of the policy literature refers to the advantages of university patenting without balancing them against the costs or the risks involved in the activities. We provide a brief description of university patenting activity in Europe examining both university-owned patents and university-invented patents. The review of the literature reveals that unlike the United States, little is known in Europe about the changes taking place in public research as a result of increased patenting and increased institutionalisation of patents. We discuss possible analytical approaches to identify both short-term and long-term effects. Concluding remarks addressing the key issues for future empirical assessments are presented in the last section.

Suggested Citation

  • Aldo Geuna & Lionel Nesta, 2003. "University Patenting and its Effects on Academic Research," SPRU Working Paper Series 99, SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex Business School.
    • Handle: RePEc:sru:ssewps:99
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    Cited by:

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    2. Yuandi Wang & Ruifeng Hu & Weiping Li & Xiongfeng Pan, 2016. "Does teaching benefit from university–industry collaboration? Investigating the role of academic commercialization and engagement," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 106(3), pages 1037-1055, March.
    3. Peter Tinnemann & Jonas Özbay & Victoria A Saint & Stefan N Willich, 2010. "Patenting of University and Non-University Public Research Organisations in Germany: Evidence from Patent Applications for Medical Research Results," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(11), pages 1-12, November.
    4. Helen Lawton Smith & Sharmistha Bagchi-Sen, 2006. "University-Industry Interactions: the Case of the UK Biotech Industry," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(4), pages 371-392.
    5. Mario Calderini & Chiara Franzoni, 2004. "Is academic patenting detrimental to high quality research? An empirical analysis of the relationship between scientific careers and patent applications," KITeS Working Papers 162, KITeS, Centre for Knowledge, Internationalization and Technology Studies, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy, revised Oct 2004.
    6. Gulbrandsen, Magnus & Smeby, Jens-Christian, 2005. "Industry funding and university professors' research performance," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(6), pages 932-950, August.
    7. Mikel Gómez Uranga & Goio Etxebarria Kerexeta & Jordi Campàs-Velasco, 2006. "The Dynamics of Commercialization of Scientific Knowledge in Biotechnology and Nanotechnology," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(9), pages 1199-1214, September.
    8. Eric J. Iversen & Magnus Gulbrandsen & Antje Klitkou, 2007. "A baseline for the impact of academic patenting legislation in Norway," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 70(2), pages 393-414, February.
    9. Nicola Baldini & Rosa Grimaldi & Maurizio Sobrero, 2007. "To patent or not to patent? A survey of Italian inventors on motivations, incentives, and obstacles to university patenting," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 70(2), pages 333-354, February.
    10. Van Looy, Bart & Callaert, Julie & Debackere, Koenraad, 2006. "Publication and patent behavior of academic researchers: Conflicting, reinforcing or merely co-existing?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 596-608, May.
    11. Henchion, Maeve M. & Kelly, Debbie & O'Reilly, Paul, 2008. "Technology Transfer in the Irish Food Industry: Researcher Perspectives," 110th Seminar, February 18-22, 2008, Innsbruck-Igls, Austria 49850, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    12. Fabrizio Cesaroni & Andrea Piccaluga & Giuseppe Conti, 2005. "Technology Transfer Offices (TTO) in Italian universities: what they do and how they do it," Working Papers 200505, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna of Pisa, Istituto di Management.
    13. Mario Calderini & Chiara Franzoni & Andrea Vezzulli, 2007. "The Unequal Benefits of Academic Patenting for Science and Engineering Research," KITeS Working Papers 203, KITeS, Centre for Knowledge, Internationalization and Technology Studies, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy, revised Oct 2007.
    14. Seyed Reza Mirnezami & Catherine Beaudry, 2016. "The effect of holding a research chair on scientists’ productivity," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 107(2), pages 399-454, May.
    15. Yuandi Wang & Die Hu & Weiping Li & Yiwei Li & Qiang Li, 2015. "Collaboration strategies and effects on university research: evidence from Chinese universities," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 103(2), pages 725-749, May.
    16. Compagnucci, Lorenzo & Spigarelli, Francesca, 2020. "The Third Mission of the university: A systematic literature review on potentials and constraints," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    University patenting; university-industry relationships; technology transfer; European universities.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
    • H4 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods

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