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on Innovation |
| By: | Gaetan de Rassenfosse (Ecole polytechnique federale de Lausanne); Gabriele Pellegrino (Catholic University of Milan) |
| Abstract: | This paper assesses the extent to which the international migration of inventors affects innovation in the receiving country. Drawing on a novel database that maps the migratory patterns of inventors, we exploit the end of the Soviet Union and the consequent post-1992 influx of ex-Soviet inventors to the United States. Econometric analysis on a panel of U.S. cities and technological fields shows that the patenting activity of U.S. inventors increased significantly after the arrival of ex-Soviet Union inventors. |
| Keywords: | geographic mobility; innovation; inventors; patents |
| JEL: | O31 O34 O51 J61 |
| Date: | 2023–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iip:wpaper:23&r=ino |
| By: | Eugenie Dugoua |
| Abstract: | This paper revisits one of the rare success stories in global environmental cooperation: the Montreal Protocol and the phase-out of ozone-depleting substances. I show that the protocol increased science and innovation on alternatives to ozone-depleting substances and argue that agreements can indeed be useful to solving global public goods problems. This contrasts with game-theoretical predictions that agreements occur only when costs to the players are low, and with the often-heard narrative that substitutes were readily available. I reconcile theory and empirics by discussing the role of induced innovation in models of environmental agreements. |
| Keywords: | induced innovation, directed technological change, green innovation |
| Date: | 2023–09–22 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cep:cepdps:dp1947&r=ino |
| By: | Roberto Alvarez; Miguel A. Gonzalez |
| Abstract: | In this paper, we explore the relevance of obstacles to green innovation in Chilean firms. We analyze differences in green innovation across firm size and industries and we explore which barriers have a greater impact on green innovators. We find that these innovators, in general, do face higher obstacles to innovation than similar but non-green firms. We conclude that, after controlling for other firm characteristics, the most relevant obstacles for green innovators are those associated with financial and knowledge aspects. This finding is relevant for the implementation of public policies aimed at enhancing green innovation in Chile. |
| Date: | 2023–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:udc:wpaper:wp550&r=ino |
| By: | Sharma, Gautam (CIRCLE, Lund University); Haldar, Stuti (CIRCLE, Lund University) |
| Abstract: | Makerspaces and fabrication laboratories (fablabs) have received extensive attention recently due to their potential to drive innovation and entrepreneurship. These spaces provide access to high-tech tools to the people and encourage community building and collaborations around technology-oriented projects. This paper analyzes the existing research on the innovation dynamics within these spaces. Seventy peer-reviewed studies were selected and thematically analyzed from the Scopus and Web of Science databases. The results are analyzed and presented as descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. We found nine significant themes from the extant literature: 1) Collaborations, learning and sharing practices in makerspaces; 2) Motivations and spatial environment affecting makerspace innovations; 3) Physical Resources, experimentations, and knowledge dimension of makerspaces; 4) Diversity and inclusion aspects of makerspaces; 5) Social and economic impact of innovation in makerspaces; 6) Regional innovation policies and maker cultures; 7) Maker movement in different regions; 8) Maker movement and the city culture; and 9) Academic makerspaces and innovation. The paper contributes to the broader literature on innovation dynamics within informal spaces like makerspaces and fablabs. |
| Keywords: | makerspaces; fabrication laboratories; fab labs; creative open spaces; innovation; systematic literature review; thematic analysis |
| JEL: | O30 O32 |
| Date: | 2023–10–31 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:lucirc:2023_010&r=ino |
| By: | Christoph Grimpe (CBS, DK - ZEW, DE); Katrin Hussinger (DEM, Université du Luxembourg); Wolfgang Sofka (CBS, DK - University of Liverpool, UK) |
| Abstract: | Access to unique knowledge of a target firm is the strategic rationale for many firm acquisitions with the expectation of improving the acquirer’s innovation performance. We argue that the ac- quisition price reflects opportunities for value creation through innovation and investigate whether acquirers pay not just for the target firm’s knowledge but also for the opportunity to access local- ized knowledge when targets are embedded in the knowledge flows of their region. Accordingly, we integrate embeddedness theory with literature on the expectations for knowledge-based value creation in M&A. We hypothesize that target firms that are highly embedded in local knowledge flows have higher acquisition prices. Using data on 520 technology-oriented firm acquisitions in Europe between 2001 and 2010, we find that the acquisition price increases with the target firm’s local embeddedness. The effects are weaker when an acquirer’s knowledge base is closely related to the localized knowledge and stronger when the target’s knowledge base is closely related to the localized knowledge, suggesting that local embeddedness conditions the ability of acquirer and |
| Keywords: | firm acquisitions, local embeddedness, localized knowledge, patents, knowledge relatedness. |
| JEL: | G34 O3 P48 |
| Date: | 2023 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:luc:wpaper:23-01&r=ino |
| By: | Sebastian Heinrich (KOF Swiss Economic Institute, ETH Zurich, Switzerland); Samad Sarferaz (KOF Swiss Economic Institute, ETH Zurich, Switzerland); Martin Wörter (KOF Swiss Economic Institute, ETH Zurich, Switzerland) |
| Abstract: | This paper studies the global synchronicity of technology and its impact on the economy. We employ dynamic factor analysis to decompose patent data in different digital technologies for various countries into global and country-speciffc factors. Our findings confirm the existence of global and local technology cycles. We further find a significant positive correlation between the estimated global technology index and a country's economic performance. This positive effect is stronger in countries with broad tech-nological exposure. However, a concentration in only few dominant techno-logical fields seems to reduce the positive impact of the global technology cycle on a country's economic performance. |
| Keywords: | innovation index, dynamic factor model, patent data, produc- tivity growth, knowledge diffusion, digitalization, globalization |
| JEL: | O31 O33 O47 C38 L86 |
| Date: | 2023–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:kof:wpskof:22-511&r=ino |
| By: | Eugenie Dugoua; Todd D. Gerarden |
| Abstract: | We study how individual inventors respond to incentives to work on “clean” electricity technologies. Using natural gas price variation, we estimate output and entry elasticities of inventors and measure the medium-term impacts of a price increase mirroring the social cost of carbon. We find that the induced clean innovation response primarily comes from existing clean inventors. New inventors are less responsive on the margin than their average contribution to clean energy patenting would indicate. Our findings suggest a role for policy to increase the supply of clean inventors to help mitigate climate change. |
| Keywords: | inventors, energy technology, induced innovation |
| JEL: | O31 Q55 Q40 |
| Date: | 2023 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_10700&r=ino |
| By: | Gaetan de Rassenfosse (Ecole polytechnique federale de Lausanne); Adam Jaffe (Brandeis University); Melissa Wasserman (The University of Texas at Austin - School of Law) |
| Abstract: | This symposium Article discusses issues raised for patent processes and policy created by inventions generated by artificial intelligence (AI). The Article begins by examining the normative desirability of allowing patents on AI-generated inventions. While it is unclear whether patent protection is needed to incentivize the creation of AI-generated inventions, a stronger case can be made that AI-generated inventions should be patent eligible to encourage the commercialization and technology transfer of AI-generated inventions. Next, the Article examines how the emergence of AI inventions will alter patentability standards, and whether a differentiated patent system that treats AI-generated inventions differently from hu-man-generated inventions is normatively desirable. This Article concludes by considering the larger implications of allowing patents on AI-generated inventions, including changes to the patent examination process, a possible increase in the concentration of patent ownership and patent thickets, and potentially unlimited inventions. |
| Keywords: | generative AI; patent; intellectual property; invention |
| JEL: | K20 D23 O34 |
| Date: | 2023–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iip:wpaper:22&r=ino |
| By: | Moretti, Enrico; Steinwender, Claudia; Van Reenen, John |
| Abstract: | We examine the impact of government funding for R&D—and defense-related R&D in particular—on privately conducted R&D, and its ultimate effect on productivity growth. We estimate longitudinal models that relate privately funded R&D to lagged government-funded R&D using industry-country level data from OECD countries and firm level data from France. To deal with the potentially endogenous allocation of government R&D funds we use changes in predicted defense R&D as an instrumental variable. In many OECD countries, expenditures for defense-related R&D represent by far the most important form of public subsidies for innovation. In both datasets, we uncover evidence of “crowding in” rather than “crowding out, ” as increases in government-funded R&D for an industry or a firm result in significant increases in private sector R&D in that industry or firm. On average, a 10% increase in government-financed R&D generates a 5% to 6% additional increase in privately funded R&D. We also find evidence of international spillovers, as increases in government-funded R&D in a particular industry and country raise private R&D in the same industry in other countries. Finally, we find that increases in private R&D induced by increases in defense R&D result in productivity gains. |
| JEL: | J1 |
| Date: | 2023–02–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:119703&r=ino |
| By: | Sebastian Heinrich (KOF Swiss Economic Institute, ETH Zurich, Switzerland) |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the potential of indicators derived from corporate websites to measure technology related concepts. Using arti cial intelligence (AI) technology as a case in point, I construct a 24-year panel combining the texts of websites and patent portfolios for over 1, 000 large companies. By identifying AI exposure with a comprehensive keyword set, I show that website and patent data are strongly related, suggesting that corporate websites constitute a promising data source to trace AI technologies. |
| Keywords: | corporate website, patent portfolio, technology indicator, text data, artificial intelligence |
| JEL: | C81 O31 O33 |
| Date: | 2023–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:kof:wpskof:22-512&r=ino |
| By: | Novaresio, Anna; Patrucco, Pier Paolo (University of Turin) |
| Abstract: | The goal of the paper is threefold: 1) to empirically investigate whether out-of-equilibrium conditions in international economic performances (exports & imports) are correlated with greater innovative efforts (R&D expenditures) in the automotive industry, by means of both descriptive and inferential techniques; 2) to explore, by using descriptive means, whether and which countries display the abovementioned path, in search for possible local-specific dynamics; 3) to provide empirical evidence in support of the existence of a self-feeding loop between trade indicators (exports & imports) and R&D expenditures in the European automobile sector, by using an appropriate econometrical strategy inspired by the “Crépon-Duguet-Mairesse†(CDM) method. Our empirical analysis, based on a panel sample of European countries between 1990-2018, provide substantial support to the hypothesis that a “creative response†to out-of-equilibrium export conditions drives innovation also in the automotive industry. Finally, our study confirms the existence of a self-reinforcing loop between exports, imports and innovation in the automotive industry, which is yet mediated by the industry size, suggesting that the economies of scale are still the major driver of the sectoral growth and innovation capability. |
| Date: | 2023–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:uto:dipeco:202306&r=ino |
| By: | Christian Peukert; Margaritha Windisch |
| Abstract: | Intellectual property rights are fundamental to how economies organize innovation and steer the diffusion of knowledge. Copyright law, in particular, has developed constantly to keep up with emerging technologies and the interests of creators, consumers, and intermediaries of the different creative industries. We provide a synthesis of the literature on the law and economics of copyright in the digital age, with a particular focus on the available empirical evidence. First, we discuss the legal foundations of the copyright system and developments of length and scope throughout the era of digitization. Second, we review the literature on technological change with its opportunities and challenges for the stakeholders involved. We give special attention to empirical evidence on online copyright enforcement, changes in the supply of works due to digital technology, and the importance of creative re-use and new licensing and business models. We then set out avenues for further research identifying critical gaps in the literature regarding the scope of empirical copyright research, the effects of technology that enables algorithmic licensing, and copyright issues related to software, data and artificial intelligence. |
| Keywords: | copyright, digitization, technology, enforcement, licensing, business models, evidence |
| JEL: | K11 L82 L86 |
| Date: | 2023 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_10687&r=ino |
| By: | Heinz Hollenstein (KOF Swiss Economic Institute, ETH Zurich, Switzerland) |
| Abstract: | The study provides evidence with respect to some topics of inter- and intra-firm diffusion of digital technology so far neglected in research. The analysis is based on a slightly extended version of the encompassing model of Battisti et al. (2009). We use a unique dataset that provides for the entire business sector information on the diffusion of 24 digital technologies ranging from old ones up to others developed only in recent years. We use the model, firstly, to analyse the determinants of the inter- and intra-firm diffusion of the entire set of digital technologies. Secondly, we do the same for six subfields of digital technology we identified by use of a factor analysis. Thirdly, we examine the effect of in-house learning on the intra-firm diffusion of digital technology. We distinguish between “cross-learning†(learning from previous experience with such technologies in subfields other than that considered) and “cumulative learning†(effect of previous application of relatively “old†digital technologies on the intensity of usage of advanced technology in the same or a closely related subfield). Finally, we analyse the determinants of a firm’s decision to digitalise a particular combination of two or more functional fields of its activity (fabrication, storage, marketing, etc.). The findings of this paper strongly support the underlying model in the case of the first and the second topic, whereas the evidence is somewhat weaker with regard to the third and the fourth element of the study. Finally, we find that complementing the “Battisti model†with variables representing firm-specific anticipated benefits is highly sensible, as these are powerful drivers of adoption and diffusion, which points to a strong forward-looking behaviour of firms in the diffusion process. |
| Keywords: | Adoption and diffusion of digital technologies, extent of digitalisation of business, inter- and intra-firm diffusion, Rank, stock/order and epidemic effects, effects of learning on the diffusion of IT, digitalisation of functional fields of firm activity |
| JEL: | O30 O31 O32 O33 |
| Date: | 2022–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:kof:wpskof:22-504&r=ino |