Technological and geographical proximity effects on knowledge spillovers: evidence from the US patent citations

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the pattern of knowledge flows as indicated by the patent citations in three areas: USA, Japan and Europe. In each economic area, we use information from United States Patent and Trademarks Office data to assess empirically the impact of the technological and geographical proximities for 530 international firms. In particular, the contribution to the existing literature is twofold: first, we use an international sample in such a way that we may compare the empirical results among different economic markets; second, we extend the analysis of the determinants of knowledge spillovers, taking into account the time dimension of the effects of the proximities. In order to compute the technological proximity, we follow the methodology developed by A.B. Jaffe (1986 Jaffe, A. B. 1986. Technological opportunity and spillovers of R&D: Evidence from firms’ patents, profits and market value. American Economic Review, 76(5): 984–1001. [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]. Technological opportunity and spillovers of R&D: Evidence from firms’ patents, profits and market value. American Economic Review 76, no. 5: 984–1001), where a technological vector is based on the distribution of patents of each firm across technology classes. As far as the geographic proximity is concerned, we use the latitude and the longitude coordinates of the city in which each firm is situated to obtain the distance, in miles, between the firms. The empirical results, in line with results from previous studies, indicate that there is a statistically significant relationship between the knowledge flows, proxied by the patent citations, and the proximities, but the effects are rather differentiated according to the proximity type.     

Should we reallocate patent fees to the universities?

In knowledge economies, patent agencies are often viewed as a relevant instrument of an efficient innovation policy. This paper brings a new support to that idea. We claim that these agencies should play an increasing role in the regulation of the relation between private R&D labs and public fundamental research units especially concerning the question of the appropriation of free usable research results. Since these two institutions work with opposite institutional arrangements (see P.S. Dasgupta and P.A. David. 1987. Information disclosure and the economics of science and technology. In Arrow and the accent of modern economic theory, ed. G.R. Feiwel, 519–42. New York: State University of New York Press), we essentially argue that there is, on the one hand, an over-appropriation of these results while, on the other hand, there is also an under-provision of free usable results issued from more fundamental research. We show how a public patent office can restore efficiency.     

The strategies of patent introduction into patent pools

This article explores patterns of patent introduction into seven patent pools over time, analyzing 1337 essential patents. Pools grow significantly after their launch, in particular through the addition of new patents by incumbent members. The generality, width and significance of patents introduced into pools decreases significantly over time. Incumbent members file and introduce patents that are narrower, more incremental and less cited than new entrants. Pool members, however, also introduce patents relevant to larger parts of the standard.     

A model for measuring and ranking a firm’s patent portfolio

ABSTRACT

Patent quality (PQ) is a critical and complex factor of a firm’s patent strategy. We posit that the existing PQ models and their methodological approaches are limited in their ability to address the multiple priorities of PQ – a firm’s strategic intentions, its stakeholders and balancing technology superiority and legal validity. We advance PQ literature by identifying the fourth generation of strategic PQ indicators and propose a hybrid multi-criteria model, based on AHP–TOPSIS, for patent portfolio measurement. The proposed PQ model provides a simple template that can guide the decisions of patent managers pursuing high quality patent portfolios. We test the PQ model by applying it in two sectors: 3G WCDMA telecommunications and biotechnology.     

Impacts of artificial intelligence

Progress in artificial intelligence (AI) is expected in a variety of areas over the next decade. This article discusses amongst others, robotics, low-level vision, natural language processing and knowledge-based ‘expert’ systems and their uses for education, science and technology. What should be closely and critically monitored is the ignorance and sensationalism that sometimes attends the notion of AI.     

The ‘Wining and dining’ project — I. ‘The wine adviser’, a deductive database

This section of the paper describes The Wine Adviser, a deductive database on wine, that was developed in the framework of the WINING AND DINING Project in applied artificial intelligence. The Wine Adviser provides information on wines of interest to final customers and restaurant management.     

“资源人”管理哲学理论初探

面对入世后国际市场竞争的进一步加剧 ,企业竞争情报的重要性日益突出。本文介绍了国际竞争情报的发展及其应用 ,并分析了我国企业竞争情报的现状 ,提出了对此应采取的正确态度。     

购并中的三个现象

企业家心智模式创新的途径是进行“五商修炼”。目前 ,已有智商、情商、意志商等理论 ,本文认为还存在着性格商、信念商的概念与训练方法。同时 ,本文还将这“五商”整合成一个整体 ,提出了“五商修炼”模式。     

科技信息精品：图情合一状况下的战略突围与发展前景

21世纪，信息成为各国建立创新型国家的最重要战略资源。由于互联网的诞生和发展，传统图书馆工作和科技情报工作必然合二为一，科技情报的制作和传递方式必将有所改变。文章阐述了只有充分发挥自身优势，制作科技信息精品，传统图书馆才能实现战略突围，才具有广泛的发展前景。     

美日两国知识产权战略：比较与启示

美日两国均是成功实施知识产权战略的典范。美国是知识产权战略的创造国。日本依靠知识产权战略，成为能与美国抗衡的经济、科技强国。本文对两国政府知识产权战略的特点进行了比较分析，并针对中国国情提出一些具体建议。