The Knowledge Production Function for University Patenting

Abstract

We estimate a knowledge production function for university patenting using an individual effects negative binomial model. We control for R&D expenditures, research field and the presence of a TTO office. We distinguish between three kinds of researchers who staff labs: faculty, postdoctoral students and PhD students. We also examine whether PhDs and postdoctoral scholars contribute equally to patent activity or whether there is a differential effect depending upon visa status. We find patent counts relate positively and significantly to the number of faculty, number of PhD students and number of postdocs. Our results also suggest that not all graduate students and postdocs contribute equally to patenting but that contribution is mediated by visa status.

Keywords: Academic Patenting, Technology transfer, Count panel data, Bayh-Dole Act, Knowledge Transfer, Knowledge production function, competitiveness, international students

JEL Classification: O31, O32, O34, O38, C23