University Patenting and its Effects on Academic Research

SPRU Electronic Working Paper No. 99

43 Pages Posted: 10 May 2004

See all articles by Aldo Geuna

Aldo Geuna

University of Turin - Department Cultures, Politics and Society

Lionel Nesta

University of Sussex

Date Written: June 2003

Abstract

The paper explores the possible consequences for academic research of increased patenting in European universities. It underlines that most of the policy literature refers to the advantages of university patenting without balancing them against the costs or the risks involved in the activities. We provide a brief description of university patenting activity in Europe examining both university-owned patents and university-invented patents. The review of the literature reveals that unlike the United States, little is known in Europe about the changes taking place in public research as a result of increased patenting and increased institutionalisation of patents. We discuss possible analytical approaches to identify both short-term and long-term effects. Concluding remarks addressing the key issues for future empirical assessments are presented in the last section.

Keywords: University patenting, university-industry relationships, technology transfer, European universities

JEL Classification: O3, I28, H4

Suggested Citation

Geuna, Aldo and Nesta, Lionel, University Patenting and its Effects on Academic Research (June 2003). SPRU Electronic Working Paper No. 99, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=492282 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.492282

Aldo Geuna (Contact Author)

University of Turin - Department Cultures, Politics and Society ( email )

Lungo Dora Siena 100 A
Torino, 10153
Italy

Lionel Nesta

University of Sussex ( email )

Sussex House
Falmer
Brighton, Sussex BNI 9RH
United Kingdom

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