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A new approach to measuring invention commercialization: An application to the SBIR program

Author

Listed:
  • Carlo Bottai

    (University of Milano–Bicocca)

  • Gaétan de Rassenfosse

    (Ecole polytechnique federale de Lausanne)

  • Emilio Raiteri

    (Eindhoven University of Technology)

Abstract

Measuring the commercialization of patented inventions remains a key challenge in innovation studies. This paper introduces a novel, web-based method for tracking the commercialization of patented inventions. The method leverages targeted web searches to identify online traces of the commercialization of patented products, offering a scalable alternative to surveys and case studies. We apply this method to patents arising from the U.S. Department of Defense’s Small Business Innovation Research program, linking 3,070 patents to procurement contracts and assessing their commercialization outcomes. The results indicate that 21.5% of these patents show signs of commercialization, with variations across R&D stages and contract phases. The method provides a systematic way to identify market adoption of patented technologies and can be extended to other contexts where identifying commercialized patents is relevant.

Suggested Citation

  • Carlo Bottai & Gaétan de Rassenfosse & Emilio Raiteri, 2025. "A new approach to measuring invention commercialization: An application to the SBIR program," Working Papers 28, Chair of Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy.
    • Handle: RePEc:iip:wpaper:28
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    File URL: https://cdm-repec.epfl.ch/iip-wpaper/WP28.pdf
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy
    • O34 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Intellectual Property and Intellectual Capital
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • H81 - Public Economics - - Miscellaneous Issues - - - Governmental Loans; Loan Guarantees; Credits; Grants; Bailouts
    • C55 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Large Data Sets: Modeling and Analysis

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