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Opportunity knocks

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  • Astebro, Thomas B.
  • Dahlin, Kristina B.

Abstract

Research on technological opportunity has typically focused on the impact of broad industry characteristics on R&D intensity of firms. This study complements such approaches by examining the impact of a multidimensional vector that measures technological opportunity on independent inventors' decisions to patent and commercialize inventions. Using data from 559 inventions and controlling for demand, appropriability, and competitive conditions, we found two of four tested dimensions of technological opportunity - technical performance and technical uncertainty - to be significant and important determinants of the likelihood of commercialization. Technical feasibility appears important in affecting patenting but unimportant in affecting commercialization. Technical significance carries a negative, although insignificant, sign conditioning commercialization.
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Suggested Citation

  • Astebro, Thomas B. & Dahlin, Kristina B., 2005. "Opportunity knocks," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(9), pages 1404-1418, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:respol:v:34:y:2005:i:9:p:1404-1418
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    1. Maria Isabella Leone & Raffaele Oriani & Toke Reichstein, 2015. "How much are flexibility and uncertainty worth in patent licensing?," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 42(4), pages 371-394, December.
    2. Song, Kisik & Kim, Karp Soo & Lee, Sungjoo, 2017. "Discovering new technology opportunities based on patents: Text-mining and F-term analysis," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 60, pages 1-14.
    3. Iritié, Jean-Jacques B-G., 2012. "Effets des pôles de compétitivité dans les industries de haute technologie : une analyse d'économie industrielle de l'innovation [Effects of competitiveness clusters in high technology industries: ," MPRA Paper 46686, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Peters, Michael & Schneider, Malte & Griesshaber, Tobias & Hoffmann, Volker H., 2012. "The impact of technology-push and demand-pull policies on technical change – Does the locus of policies matter?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(8), pages 1296-1308.
    5. Lettl, Christopher & Rost, Katja & von Wartburg, Iwan, 2009. "Why are some independent inventors 'heroes' and others 'hobbyists'? The moderating role of technological diversity and specialization," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(2), pages 243-254, March.
    6. Dahlin, Kristina B. & Behrens, Dean M., 2005. "When is an invention really radical?: Defining and measuring technological radicalness," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(5), pages 717-737, June.
    7. De Mot, Jef & Depoorter, Ben, 2011. "Technology and torts: Memory costs, nondurable precautions and interference effects," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 31(4), pages 284-290.

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