Patents For Inventions Research Articles

Exploring ways to improve China's ecological well-being amidst air pollution challenges using mixed methods

Ecological well-being performance (EWP), a novel concept in sustainable development research, diverges from traditional ecological efficiency in terms of perspectives, core content, and driving factors. However, research on EWP remains insufficiently comprehensive, particularly the corresponding theoretical and methodological investigations into driving pathways. To address this gap, this study develops an “economy-environment-health” framework, incorporating air pollution and associated health losses into the evaluation system, and employs a two-stage Super-NSBM and Window DEA model for reevaluating EWP. The study further investigates the primary pathways of EWP, focusing on environmental regulations, technological innovation, and structural adjustments through both quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative spatial econometric analysis reveals that factors such as market-driven environmental regulations, green invention patents, and industrial and energy consumption structures significantly enhance EWP. While examining the “net effects” contributions of individual variables using spatial econometric models, the fsQCA method is employed to identify four effective driving paths for EWP from a configurational perspective. These paths are 1) technological innovation and structural adjustment under environmental regulations with public participation; 2) a combination of environmental regulation, technological innovation, and structural adjustment; 3) structural adjustment with minimal influence from environmental regulations and technological innovation; and 4) structural adjustment directed by market-incentive environmental regulations.

Low-carbon city pilot policy and enterprise low-carbon innovation–A quasi-natural experiment from China

This study investigates whether the implementation of this policy fosters low-carbon innovation amongst enterprises and identifies the mechanisms underpinning its effects. Utilising low-carbon patent authorisation data from A-share listed companies in the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets between 2008 and 2019, this study employs a difference-in-differences model to conduct a multi-dimensional empirical examination of these questions. The findings indicate that the low-carbon city pilot policy can stimulate low-carbon innovation at the enterprise level to a certain extent, and this conclusion remains robust after a series of rigorous tests. The impact of low-carbon innovation is more pronounced in the authorisation of invention patents, with the pilot policy exerting a more significant influence on state-owned enterprises and enterprises with strong political affiliations. Further analysis reveals that government subsidies constitute the primary mechanism through which the pilot policy takes effect, effectively promoting low-carbon innovation in enterprises. This paper offers theoretical and empirical support for evaluating the low-carbon city pilot policy at the enterprise level and advances policy implications in three areas: further policy development, enterprise characteristics, and the application of various policy instruments.

Developing digital dividends: digital-economy-oriented industrial policy, digital technology innovation, and firms’ productivity

ABSTRACT This paper examines the impact of digital economy-oriented industrial policy on firm productivity using a difference-in-differences (DID) approach with data from China’s listed firms between 2011 and 2021, treating National Digital Economy Innovation and Development Pilot Zones (DEPZs) as a quasi-natural experiment. We employ a keyword-matching method to link firm-level digital technology innovation (DTI) with China’s granted patents. Our findings reveal a positive association between DEPZ policy and firms’ total factor productivity (TFP). The DEPZ policy implementation has resulted in an average increase of 0.0421 units in productivity per unit of production factor for in-zone firms. Regarding the mechanism, implementing DEPZ policy significantly enhances TFP through DTI improvements. Specifically, DTI driven by invention patents has a substantial pro-productivity effect, while utility model and design patents are trivial. Furthermore, firms in digital-industrialization sectors exhibit significantly higher TFP compared to those in industrial-digitalization sector.

Modeling the Management of Patent Activity of Economic Entities

Ratings of the inventive patent activity of researchers in the Republic of Belarus indicate the need to significantly increase the number of filed and registered patents in national and foreign authorities. In this regard, it is necessary to create mechanisms for managing the patent activity of business entities as the foundation for the innovative development of the country’s national economy. In this article, the authors identify specific steps to link the management of patent activity with the strategic goals of the entire economic entity. This allows you to experience real economic benefits and make the process of increasing patent activity economically justified. A strategic map for managing the patent activity of an economic entity is proposed as a model. Each goal is associated with indicators that measure the degree of its achievement and determine development prospects. The main stages of creating such a control system are considered.

The effect of ESG performance on corporate green innovation

PurposeThe transition to green growth goals requires the concerted efforts of the whole society. Enterprises, as important players in the market, play a key role in promoting green and sustainable development. The rise of the concept of sustainable development has enabled more enterprises to disclose environmental, social and governance (ESG) information, and ESG behaviour is regarded as a positive strategic behaviour to implement the new development concept. This paper aims to explore the influence of ESG performance on enterprise green innovation.Design/methodology/approachThis study applies a fixed effect model and the regulation effect of empirical analysis to explore the influence of ESG performance on enterprise green innovation. The object of investigation is 2014–2021 Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share listed companies.FindingsThe results of an empirical analysis outline the following conclusions: (1) ESG performance has a significant effect on enterprise green innovation, mainly by easing the pressure of the financing enterprise, fitting stakeholders’ environmental protection concept and obtaining employee organizational identity that influences enterprise green innovation. (2) Government regulation positively regulates the role of ESG performance in promoting the green innovation of enterprises. (3) Heterogeneity analysis found that the strengthening role of ESG performance on the green innovation of enterprises is stronger in green invention patents, state-owned enterprises and nonheavily polluting industries.Research limitations/implicationsDespite the valuable findings, this study has a few limitations. Thus, it is necessary to extend the object of investigation by adding other Asian countries, which allows for comparison analysis and allocating best practices for promoting green innovation. Besides, innovation and ESG performance depend on the quality of institutions. In this case, the future study should incorporate the indicators that reveal the quality of institutions (corruption, transparency, digitalisation, voice, accountability, etc.).Practical implicationsAccording to the above conclusions, this paper proposes suggestions at the level of enterprises, government and investors. At the enterprise level, ESG responsibility should be strengthened, ESG information should be consciously disclosed and the quality of ESG disclosure should be improved. Government departments should play the role of supervisors, improve the construction of ESG information disclosure systems and promote the formation of ESG systems. At the social level, investors should improve the ESG information status and pay more attention to the ESG performance of enterprises.Originality/valueThis study fills the scientific gaps in the analysis impact of ESG performance on the green innovation of enterprises. This paper contributes to the theoretical landscape of ESG efficiency by developing approaches based on two empirical models: testing the impact of enterprise ESG performance on green innovation and testing whether government regulation plays a regulatory role in the relationship between ESG performance and green innovation. Besides, this study analysed the ESG performance and green innovation within the following categories: heavy and nonheavy polluter industries; state and nonstate-owned enterprise groups.

The Untapped Potential of Patent Law in Deterring Environmentally Unsustainable Innovation

Abstract Despite the common belief that the granting of a patent is a neutral act, patent protection is intended to encourage technological innovations that are acceptable from an ethical point of view: in fact, both international and supranational legislation exclude from patentability inventions whose commercial exploitation would be contrary to ordre public, a notion that certainly encompasses also the prevention of serious damage to the environment. However, the provisions excluding the patentability of inventions whose commercial exploitation is contrary to ordre public (and in particular to environmental ordre public) have rarely been applied in Europe. After outlining the reasons why ordre public exceptions have had very limited application in Europe so far, the paper offers a new perspective through which such exceptions should be interpreted and suggests how patent offices can play a new and more decisive role in promoting environmentally sustainable innovation.

The Effect of Market-Based Environmental Regulations on Green Technology Innovation—The Regulatory Effect Based on Corporate Social Responsibility

This study explores the impact of market-based environmental regulations on green technological innovation and the differential regulatory effects of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on different levels of green technological innovation. By analyzing data from 746 Chinese A-share listed companies from the period of 2008–2021, this paper examines the effect of market-based environmental regulations on corporate green technology innovation. The research findings are as follows: (1) Market-based environmental regulations have a significant promoting effect on green technology innovation in enterprises. (2) CSR amplifies the positive influence of market-based environmental on green technological innovation, but it has a greater impact on strategic innovations, like utility model patents, rather than substantial ones, like invention patents. Corporate may use CSR to superficially meet regulatory pressures and stakeholder expectations, focusing more on short-term compliance than on long-term sustainable innovation. Companies might utilize CSR as a superficial means to appease regulatory demands, concentrating on immediate compliance rather than fostering enduring innovation. (3) Market-based environmental regulations facilitate green technological innovation by alleviating enterprise financing constraints and improving the efficiency of innovation resource allocation. (4) The promotion effect of market-based environmental regulations on green technological innovation is particularly evident in state-owned enterprises, heavily polluted industries, and regions with high regulatory levels. The research contribution is to provide valuable insights into the implementation of market-based environmental regulations and firms’ green technological innovation. Specifically, it elucidates the nuanced regulatory effects of corporate social responsibility, presenting a fresh lens through which to reconsider the intricate mechanism of CSR’s role as a conduit between environmental policy and innovative practices.

Firm Innovation in Hazy Days: Chinese Evidence

This paper estimates the causal effect of air pollution on firm innovation based on a nationwide sample of Chinese manufacturing firms. Using thermal inversion as instrument variable (IV), we demonstrate that air pollution significantly hurts firm innovation performance: a 1% increase in air pollution (PM2.5) in the past year, from its mean value, amounts to a 1.5% decrease in the number of invention patents compared to the average between 1999 and 2013. We also provide the casual estimate using regression discontinuity design (RDD) by exploiting the exogenous variation in pollution level caused by China’s Huai River policy: the decrease in firms’ invention patents is approximately 2.2% in the regions north of the Huai River Line. The underlying mechanism analyses reveal that poor air quality has detrimental effects on labor productivity, firms’ human capital accumulation, and financing ability. These findings highlight the substantial costs associated with air pollution, which are greater than previously thought, as it hinders innovation, a crucial driver of long-term economic growth.

Navigating Intellectual Property Rights: Patentability and Market Exclusivity for Orphan Drugs in The Evolving Landscape

Intellectual property is an intangible property created with the endeavor of human intellect. This concept is formulated for the recognition and value for the inventions, creation of mind, literary or artistic work, designs, and traditional knowledge can be given recognition by providing Intellectual Property Rights. Intellectual property is necessary for the progress and well-being of the humanity so that new inventions and creations, further innovations are encouraged. Patent gives exclusive rights for product and process whereby without the permission of the patent owner invention cannot be commercialized. Patent Law is developed as per the standards prescribed in the TRIPS agreement globally. Patent rights are also granted for drugs as pharmaceutical research is expensive and unpredictable. Pharmaceutical sector protects their inventions by product or process patent rights. Nowadays rare diseases or orphan’s diseases caused by genetic alterations have become a threat for human life. It has become a necessity to develop new drugs or orphan drugs to treat these rare disorders even though it is fewer in numbers. In US and EU once a drug receives the status of orphan is attained the protection is limited to 10 to 12 years of protection from commercialization. In such scenario the companies who have spent millions for their Research and Development will not be in a situation to take back the investment. High revenue or capital investment is hindering the development of orphan drugs. Orphan drug exclusivity with the patent protection will definitely help in encouraging more inventions for rare diseases thereby generating a world without disease. This paper surmises upon the importance of patent to orphan drugs and exclusivity to the manufactures which can be achieved only by appropriate policy decisions and regulatory framework.

Speed Sensor-less Control of Induction Motor based on Super-helical Sliding Mold

Background: With the continuous progress of technology and the development of shield enterprises, higher requirements are put forward for speed estimation and system stability in the sensorless control system of induction motors in shield machines. Method: In order to solve the problems of velocity observation error and sliding mode vibration of the induction motor velocity observation method based on sliding mold observer, an improved superhelical sliding mold observer is proposed by combining the currently known invention patents and the information based on the induction motor control. Result: The open square of the current error value is introduced into the continuous function of the sliding variable of the observer, and two different functions are used in the boundary layer to replace the sign function, which reduces the sliding mode noise and vibration problems, and the stability of the observer is proved by the Lyapunov stability theory. After that, a phase-locked loop alternative model-referenced adaptive algorithm is used as the rotational speed observation link, which solves the problem that the conventional model-referenced adaptive algorithm relies on the current-modeled magnetic chain observer. Conclusion: The improved super-helical sliding mode observer and phase-locked loop control method effectively reduce the system vibration and speed estimation error of the motor under different speeds and loading conditions, and the observed currents are smoother, which improves the stability of the system. Simulation and experimental results under different working conditions show the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Intellectual property judicial protection, innovation factor input, and corporate innovation: Evidence from the establishment of intellectual property courts in China

AbstractBased on the establishment of China's intellectual property (IP) courts, this article examines the impact of intellectual property judicial protection (IPJP) on corporate innovation using the sample of China's A‐shared listed firms from 2013 to 2021 by the time‐varying difference‐in‐differences (DID) model. The result shows that IP courts have a significant positive effect on corporate innovation, mainly by increasing innovation factor input, including expenditure of R&D funds and R&D personnel quantity. Additionally, the effect is stronger for invention patents and in non‐state‐owned firms, small firms, high‐tech firms, and firms with low financing constraints.

Institutional Investors’ Green Activism and Corporate Green Innovation: Based on the Behind-Scene Communications

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the promotion effects of institutional investors’ communication on corporate green innovation. We use content analysis to identify the efficiency of institutional investors’ communication, and find that institutional investors’ communication promotes corporate green innovation. The mechanism analysis indicates that institutional investors’ communication improves managers’ awareness of green transformation, promotes corporate green investment efficiency and mitigates the extent of greenwashing. The positive impacts of institutional investors’ communication are more effective on corporate utility patents than on invention patents. Such green governance effects are more pronounced in non-state-owned firms, green investors and close-distance to the institutional investors. By introducing exogenous shocks of the New Environmental Protection Law and China’s regional carbon emissions trading market pilots, we find that the impact of institutional investors’ communication on green innovation is enhanced after the implementation of environmental policies. Overall, our research contributes to the existing literature on institutional investors’ green activism and the factors of green innovation, and also enriches the cross-disciplinary research on environmental regulation affecting institutional investors’ green governance.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of a new surgical correction method for combined pelvic organ prolapse in women of reproductive age: A prospective non-randomized study

Aim. To evaluate the effectiveness of combined pelvic organ prolapse correction using the proposed modification of laparoscopic promontofixation of the uterus and vaginal walls using a mesh graft in women of reproductive age. Materials and methods. A prospective non-randomized study included 41 women of reproductive age (up to 49 years) with grade II–IV symptomatic combined pelvic organ prolapse. The main group (n=19) included women who underwent surgery using the proposed original method (invention patent No. RU2795649C1 dated October 27, 2022), the control group (n=22) included women who underwent conventional laparoscopic promontofixation of the uterus and vaginal walls and vaginal plasty with local tissues. The duration of surgery, intraoperative blood loss, anatomical result, effect on symptoms and sexual function were assessed using the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20), Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12). Results. The duration of surgery and intraoperative blood loss were significantly lower in the main group (p=0.043 and p0.001, respectively). Anatomical success was achieved in both groups and persisted throughout the follow-up period (without statistically significant differences). Analysis of the PFDI-20 questionnaire responses showed a significant improvement in both groups with no statistically significant differences. Analysis of the PISQ-12 questionnaire data showed a significant improvement in the quality of sexual life in both groups; however, after a year of follow-up, patients of the main group had a significantly better quality of sexual life (p0.05). Conclusion. The surgical correction of combined pelvic organ prolapse using the proposed method demonstrated a good anatomical result, a decrease in intraoperative blood loss and duration of surgery, as well as an improvement in sexual function in women of reproductive age.

Substantial innovation or strategic innovation? The impact of government venture capital guidance funds on corporate innovation

AbstractBased on a dual‐differential model of the number of patent applications issued by A‐share enterprises from 2014 to 2019, this article analyzes impact of Venture Capital (VC) guided by government on company's innovation and their internal mechanisms. The results show that the number of patent applications increases after enterprises are invested directly or indirectly by the government guiding fund, indicating that this kind of VC has a positive guidance on enterprise innovation. However, after further studying by subdividing patent types, it is found that enterprises pay less attention to invention patents, which hold higher technical requirements, and focus on “quantity” rather than “quality” in patent applications. This result also reflects that the investment of VC guided by government promotes the overall enterprise innovation, but the positive effect on the innovation quality is not significant. Our article not only affirms the positive influence of VC guided by government on enterprise innovation, but also puts forward some suggestions on the management of government guiding fund.

Analysis of Japan’s Experience of Implementing Technological Sovereignty Strategy

The article discusses the purpose of technological sovereignty of each state and its role for economic sustainability. The essence of technological sovereignty in the aspect of various scientific approaches is revealed as well as the boundaries of the sovereignty type under consideration are determined, taking into account production and knowledge-intensive components. Attention is focused on the features of Japan’s transition from a state in isolation to a state interacting with the outside world through technology. The essence of Japan’s approach to ensuring its own economic stability against the background of technological production is revealed. Japan’s place in the world rankings is considered in terms of technology and the number of registered patents for inventions. The indicators of capital investments, industry priorities, labor force in technological industries, the level of exports of goods and services from GDP, the trade balance from GDP, the level of exports of high technologies for 2020–2022 against the background of strengthening Japan’s technological sovereignty are analyzed. The forecast estimates of the technological future of Japan are determined, taking into account the priority in the national economy and the specifics of entering the foreign market with a new technological development. These forward-looking estimates take into account the specifics of the import of raw materials and their intended purpose to ensure technological sovereignty in the foreseeable future. As a result, there is a high probability of having a certain economic algorithm that allows the Japanese economy to restore the desired stability indicators in a short time. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct applied research in order to identify the essence of the economic algorithm used by Japan to strengthen technological sovereignty and ensure economic stability in a short time for subsequent possible adaptation in the Russian economy.

The US–China trade war and corporate innovation: Evidence from China

AbstractThis study investigates the effect of the US–China trade war on corporate innovation in the context of China. We find that the first‐order effect of the trade war on corporate innovation is significantly negative. That is, Chinese firms exposed to the US–China trade war have lower numbers of patent applications and invention patent applications. Underlying mechanisms include reductions in market expansion and innovation input. Our findings are more pronounced for firms connected to the United States and those suffering financial distress and for non‐state‐owned enterprises. We further contribute to the literature by showing that firms with developed managerial ability, more confident managers, and better corporate social responsibility performance tend to increase innovation for competitiveness in response to the trade war. Finally, we explore the effect of Chinese retaliatory tariff shocks on corporate innovation and find that US tariffs and Chinese retaliatory tariffs hinder corporate innovation in China.

Changes and divergences of urban climate adaptability in Pearl River Delta: spatiotemporal patterns and driving forces

ABSTRACT With global change and urban expansion, the city’s vulnerable to climate-induced disasters is increasing significantly. Addressing this challenge has become a global priority and there is an urgent need to improve the resilience and adaptability. We focused on the climate adaptability of cities in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) in the southeastern China, and employed the entropy-weighting method and TOPSIS model to assess city’s adaptability to climate in three levels, exposure, sensitivity, and adaptation. Then, we applied the Obstacle and Geodetector model to identify the challenges of the cities and elucidate the primary drivers of the changes in climate adaptability from 2000 to 2020. This study shows a significant increase in climate adaptation within the PRD region over the past two decades, especially for economy-prosperous cities such as Shenzhen and Guangzhou that show significant improvement. Spatially, central cities are more adaptable than western cities. The density of urban drainage pipes, doctors per 1000 people, and GDP per capita are the main obstacles. The explanatory power of the number of invention patents and fixed investments persists in surpassing that of the heat index and other factors. This interaction underscores the imperative for integrated strategies aimed at fostering both socio-economic development and climate adaptability. It emphasizes the need to tailor urban planning approaches to the specific characteristics of cities in different locations and stages of development, thereby enhancing their capacity to adapt to climate change.

A scientist and a world-class personality: Nikolai Petrovich Elinov (1928–2017)

The essay is dedicated to Nikolai Petrovich Elinov, an eminent scientist with a global reputation, who has made a substantial contribution to the development of medical microbiology, mycology, and biotechnology in the Russian Federation. N. P. Elinov is a professor, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Honored Scientist of the RSFSR, and rector of the Leningrad Chemical-Pharmaceutical Institute. He is an active member of the St. Petersburg Engineering Academy and the New York Academy of Sciences, author of 10 textbooks, 8 handbooks, 10 monographs, over 400 articles in domestic and foreign journals, and holds 70 patents for inventions. Professor N. P. Elinov is widely recognized in the scientific community for his work in areas such as biology of aposporous yeast, chemistry and biotechnology of microbial polysaccharides, and others. He has established a school of students and followers, including 50 candidates and 9 Doctors of Science. Under his guidance, the microbiology department laid the foundations for engineering and microbiological training of specialists. As the rector of LCFI, Nikolai Petrovich contributed to the organization of the country’s only faculty for training biotechnology engineers, leading the university to top positions in preparing specialists for the pharmaceutical industry. In 1968, Nikolai Petrovich became a member of the International Commission on Yeast Organisms of the International Union of Microbiological Societies. His name was included in the book “2000 Outstanding Scientists of the Late 20th Century” (1998) by the Cambridge International Biographical Center (UK), where he was recognized as a specialist in microbiology and biotechnology. This essay, based on archival materials, publications, articles, and colleagues’ memories, reveals the key milestones in the life and scientific achievements of Nikolai Petrovich Elinov.

A timely helping hand: China‐U.S. Trade War, government subsidy, and firm innovation

AbstractThis paper investigates the impact and mechanism of the China‐U.S. trade war on firm innovation in China exploiting the trade war as a quasi‐natural experiment using firm‐level data from 2015 to 2020. We apply textual analysis to annual reports of listed firms to identify treatment and control groups. Our DID estimates show that while the trade war is a negative shock, it has increased the number of total patent applications, invention patent applications, and non‐invention patent applications by 6.0%, 3.7%, and 4.1%, respectively. We also observe that government subsidies could help firms resist adverse shocks on time with more innovation outcomes. Furthermore, we find the pertinence of government subsidy. The government tended to grant subsidies to firms that have trade connections with the U.S. and firms would use subsidies for R&D to increase innovation. Overall, we find that the trade war prompts the government to increase subsidies for firms, thereby boosting innovation.

Research progress on optimization of in vitro isolation, cultivation and preservation methods of dental pulp stem cells for clinical application.

Due to high proliferative capacity, multipotent differentiation, immunomodulatory abilities, and lack of ethical concerns, dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are promising candidates for clinical application. Currently, clinical research on DPSCs is in its early stages. The reason for the failure to obtain clinically effective results may be problems with the production process of DPSCs. Due to the different preparation methods and reagent formulations of DPSCs, cell characteristics may be affected and lead to inconsistent experimental results. Preparation of clinical-grade DPSCs is far from ready. To achieve clinical application, it is essential to transit the manufacturing of stem cells from laboratory grade to clinical grade. This review compares and analyzes experimental data on optimizing the preparation methods of DPSCs from extraction to resuscitation, including research articles, invention patents and clinical trials. The advantages and disadvantages of various methods and potential clinical applications are discussed, and factors that could improve the quality of DPSCs for clinical application are proposed. The aim is to summarize the current manufacture of DPSCs in the establishment of a standardized, reliable, safe, and economic method for future preparation of clinical-grade cell products.