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The impact of the abolishment of the professor’s privilege on European university-owned patents

Author

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  • Catalina Martínez
  • Valerio Sterzi

Abstract

Intellectual property regimes governing university inventions were quite diverse in Europe at the end of the 1990s. Several European countries maintained the so-called professor’s privilege, an exception to employment law whereby university researchers were allowed to retain the ownership of academic inventions. The 2000s were characterised by convergence towards a more homogeneous system, in which university administrations took control of IP management. We investigate the impact of the reform and we observe a decline in the technological importance and the value of the patents owned and managed by universities in the countries abolishing the professor’s privilege. On the contrary, by differentiating the academic patents by type of ownership, we find that the technological importance of academic patents owned by companies has instead increased. Our study produces some new results that may alert policymakers to the possible unintended consequences of the university ownership model.

Suggested Citation

  • Catalina Martínez & Valerio Sterzi, 2021. "The impact of the abolishment of the professor’s privilege on European university-owned patents," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(3), pages 247-282, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:indinn:v:28:y:2021:i:3:p:247-282
    DOI: 10.1080/13662716.2019.1709421
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    Cited by:

    1. Li, Yang & Tang, Yujie, 2021. "A dynamic capabilities perspective on pro-market reforms and university technology transfer in a transition economy," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    2. Liu, Xin & Li, Xue & Yang, Wei & Zhang, Ben, 2025. "How does patent mixed ownership impact university technology commercialization? Evidence from China," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    3. Ugo RIZZO & Valerio STERZI, 2022. "Characterising science-industry patent collaborations: knowledge base, impact and economic value," Bordeaux Economics Working Papers 2022-15, Bordeaux School of Economics (BSE).
    4. Marco Corsino & Salvatore Torrisi, 2023. "University engagement in open innovation and intellectual property: evidence from university–industry collaborations," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 50(4), pages 781-813, December.
    5. Gabriele Angori & Chiara Marzocchi & Laura Ramaciotti & Ugo Rizzo, 2024. "A patent-based analysis of the evolution of basic, mission-oriented, and applied research in European universities," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(2), pages 609-641, April.
    6. Isabel Cavalli & Charlie Joyez, 2021. "The Dynamics of French Universities in Patent Collaboration Networks," GREDEG Working Papers 2021-38, Groupe de REcherche en Droit, Economie, Gestion (GREDEG CNRS), Université Côte d'Azur, France.
    7. Nicolas Carayol & Valerio Sterzi, 2021. "The transfer and value of academic inventions when the TTO is one option," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 338-367, May.
    8. Motohashi, Kazuyuki & Ikeuchi, Kenta & Kwon, Seokbeom, 2025. "Impact of national university patenting on innovation: Researcher analysis in Japan," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship

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