Abstract
Duplication of R&D investments is an increasingly interesting phenomenon whose determinants remain largely unexplored. We identify two dynamics that might lead to a duplication of an invention: independent duplication and competitive duplication. Those are both affected by knowledge diffusion and incentives to compete. Accordingly we study the probability of a duplication to occur as a function of the proximity and time distance among the inventions and their interaction. Exploiting data recently available in EPO patent bibliographical data we develop a methodology based on patent citations to study the probability that a claimed invention duplicates an existing one. Geographic distance decreases the probability of duplication for recent inventions, for which the incentive to compete is reasonably higher. On the contrary, for less recent inventions the effect of geographic distance is the opposite showing that these are more likely the consequence of lack of knowledge regarding the existence of the technology. Partial sectorial differences are encountered and discussed. Our results have implication for the literature on agglomeration and knowledge spillovers, the patent system. Our methodology contributes to the debate on the meaning on patent citations.
Published Version
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