Abstract
Patents, commonly assumed as a means to achieve market and protect inventive efforts are however being transformed into ends, at the level of government, university and individual researcher objectives. This article presents the recent institutional changes in Portuguese Industrial Property Rights framework, which have modified collective and individual incentives for patenting. As a result, national patent requests have experienced unprecedented growth rates and higher education institutions have assumed the central role in patenting. As patents are becoming ends rather than means, it is questionable whether using patent numbers is a reliable proxy for measuring innovation and knowledge transfer.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
