International Conference on the Economics of Innovation and Patenting at ZEW

On 15 and 16 May 2017, the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) in Mannheim hosted the seventh Conference on the Economics of Innovation and Patenting. The conference was organised in collaboration with the Leibniz ScienceCampus “Mannheim Centre for Competition and Innovation” (MaCCI) and sponsored by the Fritz Thyssen Foundation. Over the course of two conference days, around 100 international researchers discussed recent research findings on various topics, such as patent systems, incentives for R&D, knowledge production and migration.

The strong reputation of the conference among economists is reflected in the high number of research contributions which were submitted for the conference. From approximately 200 submission, a scientific committee selected 58 contributions. The research papers, many of which followed an empirical approach, covered a broad range of topics in the field of innovation economics and patenting. The presentations on innovation research were dedicated, among others, to basic research questions and topics such as knowledge production, the productivity of researchers, networks of inventors as well as the globalisation of research activities. The sessions focusing on patent research featured, for instance, presentations on the strategic use of patents and the influence of patent systems on innovation activity.

Plenary paper speed dating session proves successful for young researchers

As a novelty, this year's conference programme featured a plenary paper speed dating session followed by poster presentations. During the conference, ten up-and-coming researchers presented their research findings in five-minute presentations in front of the conference participants. A subsequent poster session provided a platform for in-depth discussions, allowing young economists to discuss their research papers with renowned economists in a friendly atmosphere and gain new ideas for their projects. Thanks to the financial support of the Fritz Thyssen Foundation, many young researchers were able to attend the event and benefit from this opportunity.

Broad range of topics – from patent boxes to the connection between migration and knowledge diffusion

The first plenary lecture was given by Professor Bronwyn H. Hall of the University of California in Berkeley, US, one of the most renowned researchers in the field of innovation economics and patenting. In her speech, she discussed whether the introduction of patent boxes as a fiscal instrument has a stimulating effect on the innovation activity in the respective country. Her research findings indicate that patent boxes should be viewed in a critical light, as many companies use them to defer taxes. The study has, however, not revealed any evidence that the use of patent boxes is positively correlated with innovation activity. In the second speech, Professor Andrew W. Torrance of the University of Kansas School of Law, US, presented a new approach to valuating patents. As a patent lawyer with a natural sciences background, he offered new insights and explained how big data can be used to assess the value of patents. According to Professor Torrance, non-practising entities (NPEs) are holding patents of an above-average value, despite the fact that they have no intentions of developing them.

The second conference day featured a keynote speech by Professor Pierre Azoulay of the MIT Sloan School of Management in Cambridge, US, who addressed basic research questions. Professor Azoulay raised the question whether paradigm shifts in science depend on certain researchers who are recognised in their respective fields. According to Azoulay, outstanding scientists hinder the emergence of new knowledge in their respective fields by means of intellectual, social and media-related barriers, thereby delaying paradigm shifts. The closing keynote speech by Professor Francesco Lissoni of the University of Bordeaux in France analysed the connection between migration and knowledge diffusion. Using the USA as an example, he investigates whether the work of researchers with an immigration background influences the production of knowledge in the respective countries of origin. In his study, Lissoni observes ethnic group formations particularly among researchers of Asian origin. However, this development does not necessarily contribute to the production of knowledge in the countries of origin.

For additional information and the conference programme, please visit the conference website