Patenting Activity Research Articles

CEO Liberalism, Firm Governance, and Innovative Behavior

We draw on upper-echelons literature recognizing the important role of CEOs in firm strategy, and corporate governance research, to examine the role of CEOs’ political ideologies, in particular their degree of liberalism, on firm innovative behavior. We suggest that firms run by liberal CEOs engage in more exploratory innovation search, and produce more breakthrough innovations, but also more low-quality innovations. Internal and external governance mechanisms such as CEO compensation, board independence, institutional ownership, antitakeover provisions, and competition moderate these relationships. We test our hypotheses on a sample of 411 public firms and use firms’ patenting activities to capture innovative behavior. Our study provides a more nuanced perspective on the role of CEO values and their interplay with governance mechanisms on firm innovative behavior.

Competition and Innovation: The Breakup of IG Farben

The relationship between competition and innovation is hard to disentangle as exogenous variation in market structure is rare. Such a rare disruption is the 1952 breakup of Germany's leading chemical company, IG Farben. The Allies occupying Germany imposed the breakup because of IG Farben's importance for the German war economy instead of standard antitrust concerns. In technology areas where the breakup reduced concentration, patenting increased strongly, driven by domestic, non-IG Farben firms. An analysis of patent texts shows that in the short-run, the propensity to patent increases, but not in the long-run. The patenting activity of IG Farben's successors increased in comparison to a synthetic control and the successors' patenting specialized relative to the pre-breakup period. The results underscore the importance of competition in technology development for innovation.

How public investment fuels innovation: Clues from government-subsidized USPTO patents

• This study is among the first attempts to depict a full picture of the public-subsidized innovation scheme. • This study proposes a multi-dimension framework for learning public-subsidized innovation schemes—the innovation promotor, innovator, and innovation area. • Government agencies are more and more involved in collaborative relationships. • Non-government innovators have shown more powerful vitality than government innovators. • Federal agencies vary in preferences to select subsidized recipients and technological fields. Considerably little effort has been devoted to systematically exploring the landscape of government-funded innovation schemes, leaving policymakers and academics little empirical evidence with which to grasp the overall situation of national R&D funding strategies. In the United States (US), patents with a government right or financial interest are flagged, offering a window through which we can examine the landscape of today's patterns of government support for innovation. We conduct the examination from the perspectives of the leading government agencies, the promotor-recipient relationship, and the common concerns of different participants. The results show that the R&D project funding by federal agencies has, among other factors, contributed to the growth in the number of patent records. The Departments of Defense (DoD), Energy (DoE), and Health and Human Services (HHS), and the National Science Foundation (NSF) have issued the most funding and hold rights to more patent records than any other agencies. Moreover, reforms to the US patent system made 40 years ago to afford more protection to non-government assignees appear to have significantly impacted patenting activity. Universities, companies, and individuals have become far more active in fulfilling government-funded projects, with remarkable innovations as a result. In recent years, funding priorities have shifted toward research in biomedicine, fields related to human life, and computer science. However, the four dominant agencies responsible for most government funding differ in their investment priorities and frequently adjust which areas of innovation they support. This study is among the first attempts to support the landscape of the public-invested innovation using the full government-subsidized patent dataset. The analyses in this paper are instructive in understanding the dynamics of US government funding for innovation and informing effective policymaking around innovation.

Near and Far: R&D Strategies of Business Groups

Understanding how multi-location firms organize their global research and development (R&D) networks has implications for their innovation performance. Among various drivers of innovation, geographic distance plays a critical role in determining the benefits and costs of conducting R&D in different locations. Prior research has suggested firms typically invest in geographically proximate subsidiaries that can transfer knowledge via spillovers and are relatively easy to monitor. Yet, there is also evidence of highly distant subsidiaries providing access to specialized knowledge. We test which organizational structures are most prevalent using data from a globally comprehensive sample of business groups. To account for the endogeneity of geographic distance, we employ a Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD). While both proximate and highly distant subsidiaries are equally likely to be active in R&D, business groups use different strategies to manage subsidiaries based on their geographic distance. Our findings suggest that business groups that invest in highly distant R&D-active subsidiaries tend to have higher patenting activity and productivity. These results yield concrete recommendations for business groups on how to balance the tension between the costs and benefits of geographic distance for R&D strategies.

Driving Commitment: Cognitive Diversity and Emerging Technology Investment within the Auto Industry

Strategically managing industry change is a pervasive challenge for firms and can have profound implications on firm performance, even survival. This paper asks whether a firm’s cognitive diversity increases or decreases its responsiveness to industry change. I contend that this relationship is nuanced and depends on the mode of investment. I argue that a firm’s internal research and corporate venture capital related to a focal emerging technology should increase with greater cognitive diversity regarding the technology, consistent with a learning perspective. In contrast, I hypothesize that acquisitions associated with an emerging technology should decrease with greater cognitive diversity, consistent with a political perspective. I explore these arguments within the setting of the global automotive industry between 1990 – 2020, a period characterized by significant industry change associated with the electrification of powertrains, autonomation of driving, connectivity of vehicles, and shared mobility. Utilizing a novel dataset of over 3.2 million automotive industry-related quotes as well as investment and patent activity of 56 major automobile manufacturers during this period, I find robust support for my theory. The study offers a novel account of how cognition within the firm may influence firm-level strategic decisions across firms over different stages of industry change.

Advanced innovative development of the agro-industrial complex based on the patent information resource

Abstract. Relevance. The article is devoted to the issue of activation of the domestic agro-industrial complex’s (APC) patent and licensing activities as the most important resource of its advanced innovative self-development and effective adaptation to new realities caused by patterns of the large-scale transformational changes in the processes of changing technological setups, as well as the need to minimize unfriendly states’ unprecedented sanctions aimed at restricting access to goods and technologies with a high intellectual component. The study relevance of the forced transfer issue of the agro-industrial complex of rural areas to the intellectual development vector increases sharply due to the insufficient development of methodological tools for assessing the use effectiveness of its intangible assets in terms of achieving strategic goals of ensuring food security and sovereign self-development of the Russian Federation regions. The purpose of the research is to assess the current state and prospects for the transition of Russian APC to an intellectual development vector based on the information resource patent. The main research methods are the following: 1) scientometric analysis of the research’s publication field; 2) data economic and statistical analysis on the state of agriculture in the Russian regions; 3) rating method for assessing agriculture in the Russian regions; 4) ecosystem approach to evaluating the patent activity effectiveness. Results. Special attention in the methodology of the author’s research was paid to the issues of increasing the regional agro-industrial clusters’ patent potential based on an ecosystem approach to intellectual property management. The proposed methodological tools of the study make it possible to timely clarify the priority directions for the new structure formation of the intellectual property ecosystem in the agro-industrial complex of the Russian regions, transfer from managing import substitution processes to proactive import substitution projects management, strengthen territorial integrity and expand the institutions’ range of coordinating high-tech projects and supporting the development of highly intelligent entrepreneurship networks. The scientific novelty of the research results lies in the application of an ecosystem approach in the assessment of the effectiveness in patent activities of APC and agriculture of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, as it makes it possible to determine the monetary and institutional factors of their uneven access to competencies of intellectual property management.

Transient receptor potential Ankyrin 1: structure, function and ligands

Introduction: Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) is a protein expressed in many living organisms. During the study of TRPA1, its unique biological role as a universal and polymodal sensor of various altering agents was found. The aim of this study is to search and generalize information about structural features and molecular determinants, mechanisms of activation, action and modulation of TRPA1 as a universal pain and inflammation sensor, as well as the nature of activators and antagonists of this target and their therapeutic potential.
 Materials and methods: This article presents an overview of the results of scientific research of TRPA1, its modulators, as well as an overview of their pharmacological potential over the period from the discovery of these channels to the present, with an emphasis on the last decade.
 Results and discussion: The main collected data on expression, structural features and molecular determinants, mecha­nisms of activation and action of TRPA1 indicate its role as a universal and labile element of the primary response of the body to adverse exogenous and endogenous factors. Regardless of the nature of the stimulus, hyperstimulation of TRPA1 channels can lead to such phenomena as pain, inflammation, itching, edema and other manifestations of alteration, and therefore TRPA1 blockade can be used in the treatment of various diseases accompanied by these pathological conditions. Currently, TRPA1 antagonists are being actively searched for and studied, as evidenced by a high patent activity over the past 14 years; however, the molecular mechanisms of action and pharmacological properties of TRPA1 blockers remain understudied.
 Conclusion: Acquire of new information about TRPA1 will help in the development of its modulators, which can be­come promising analgesics, anti-inflammatory drugs, bronchodilators, and agents for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases of new generations.

China’s AI Strategy

The present study is devoted to the consideration of the peculiarities of Chinese policy in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) in the context of global technological confrontation.Aim. To identify the key areas of China’s AI strategy, as well as to identify priority areas of state policy in this area.Tasks. To analyze the results of the development of the AI industry in China, to consider the main economic indicators, achievements in the creation of computing infrastructure, the development of its own research and development in the field of AI, to identify the main provisions of the key official documents of the Chinese strategy in the field of AI. To summarize the main directions of China’s policy in the field and in the broader context of global geopolitical and technological confrontation.Methods. Research of official documents and on the basis of information and analytical technologies, comparative analysis, content analysis, inductive method using approaches of critical geopolitics.Results. The study showed that China is one of the world leaders in the field of AI technologies. Its leading positions are supported by substantial investments comparable to the USA and the EU, significant achievements in the creation of computing infrastructure, high patent and publication activity of Chinese researchers, developers and organizations, existing scientific and technological groundwork in the field of quantum computing and neuroscience. China has formed a holistic AI strategy aimed at technological leadership, strengthening sovereignty in the field of high technologies, developing human resources, improving economic efficiency, gaining competitive advantages at the international level, as well as projecting its own geopolitical interests on this basis. A systematic approach to the adoption of the main strategic documents aimed at supporting the development of AI, the balance of roadmaps for achieving the main goals, contributes to the formation of a balanced and effective public policy in this area.Conclusions. The analysis of China’s AI policy allows us to state the formation of a large space for the development of AI technologies, which acts as an alternative to the Western space, the leaders of which are the United States and the EU. At the international level, in the context of the tightening of the sanctions policy, China is able to provide countries for which the range of opportunities for cooperation with the West has seriously narrowed recently, with access to modern high technologies and substantial investment resources, thereby strengthening its own integration potential and influence in the world.

Large AI Spaces and Russia’s Strategy in the Context of the “Sanctions War”

The article is devoted to the study of the role of technological development in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) in the international political processes, the formation of large policy spaces in the field of AI, as well as the development of Russia in this area. The author provides an analysis of national AI strategies, examines the priority spheres and directions of development of these technologies for different countries, the availability of resources for the goals set, and the specifics of national AI policies of the leading states. The article compares the data on the volume of funding for AI developments, patent activities, and the existing infrastructure for high-performance computing in the countries, that occupy leading positions in the field of AI. The paper provides a brief overview of the key scientific and technological areas that are crucial for the creation of next-generation AI technologies: quantum computing and neuromorphic technologies within the framework of existing major national projects on the study of the brain. The author devotes a special place to the study of international political aspects of technological development in the field of AI in the work. From the perspective of the impact of AI policy on integration processes, the conclusion is made about the formation of two spaces: the first unites the OECD countries with the unconditional leadership of the USA and the EU in the field of research, development, infrastructure, resources, and international standards. The second, restrained space, relies on the technological and financial power of China, where are starting to get involved countries, including Russia, that are facing with narrowing range of opportunities for cooperation with Western countries. The author concludes that the confrontation between the two AI spaces is influenced by a more general trend of decoupling of the economies of the USA and China, which in turn contributes to technological isolation trends at the global level. A special place in the article is devoted to the analysis of the development of AI technologies in Russia; it considers official documents, leading players, and Russia’s positions at the international level. The possible directions of Russia’s cooperation with the world leading players are considered, which allows to develop AI technologies and at the same time maintain technological sovereignty in this area.

Electro-Chlorination Technology for Disinfection of Drinking Water: A Patent Landscape

Abstract: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2015, which are defined to achieve an improved and more sustainable future, promote safe and affordable drinking water facilities for all, till 2030. The rural and remotely placed population worldwide faces the problem of a shortage of pathogen-free drinking water due to the huge capital and maintenance costs involved in water purification. The current chemical disinfection treatment which is widely used for water disinfection has several disadvantages including the formation of Disinfection By-Products (DBPs). Electrochlorination is one of the best alternatives as per the literature that can be installed as a decentralized system in a remote location and can overcome most of the issues related to chemical disinfection. The present paper provides an overview of the innovations in the area of electro-chlorination as a disinfection technique through a detailed patent analysis. The patenting activity and publications are considered an indicator of research and innovation in the field. The patent analysis is also supported by literature analysis for understanding the research trends and the extent of research in the area. The patent data from the year 2000 to 2021 are analyzed country-wise and year-wise. The paper also discusses the IPC, CPC codes, assignees, investors, US class codes, patents types, and citations analysis for the patents in the field of electro-chlorination and DBPs. The keywords used for patent analysis are ‘Electro- chlorination’ and ‘Water’ and ‘Disinfection’ and ‘Disinfection by Products’.

Mapping the Patent Landscape of Quantum Technologies: Patenting Trends, Innovation and Policy Implications

Recent technical breakthroughs underscore the potential of second generation (2G) quantum technologies including quantum simulation, quantum sensing and metrology, quantum computation, and quantum communication. Patenting trends of such technologies are an indicator of the pace of innovation at the invention stage. Empirical studies looking at the real-world patenting activity can provide valuable evidence to help assess and guide policy proposals related to intellectual property rights (IPRs), innovation and governance of quantum technologies. In this paper, we report the results of a study designed to map the patent landscape of quantum technologies. We evaluate the patenting trends over the last 20 years to determine: (1) the growth of quantum technology patents, (2) the technology breakdown and classification of patenting activity, (3) the choice of priority patent office, (4) the types of patent claims and strategies, (5) the subject matter of recently awarded patents, (6) the top patent owners, (7) the dominant patent portfolios, and (8) the geographical distribution of this patent activity. Based on our patent landscape study, we critically examine if patent protection is posing a problem in the technical field of quantum technologies. We show how quantum patent disclosure is moving us to an emerging quantum information commons, gradually reinforcing the public domain. Additionally, we examine the innovation and policy implications of these results in the broader context of quantum innovation initiatives, market competition, the patent/trade secret interface, and governance of quantum technologies.

Extension of the Scope of Patenting to the Content of Inventions as aReality Conditioned by Scientific Evolution in Support of Energy

The need for new scientifically argued solutions with a growing innovation component is dictated by socio-economic development, with the emergence of new global challenges. And the period of systemic crisis experienced now, with serious health, political, economic and social features, qualifies as having serious threats to human civilization itself. Reason, creativity and ingenuity, particularities that represent us in the living world, constantly generate new scientific visions, moving the horizons of knowledge to as yet unknown limits. Science is enriched by new hypotheses, concepts and paradigms, using an updated terminology base, which also requires qualitatively new approaches. The patenting activity, with the direct connection to these desiderata, offers extended areas to the part of the content of the intellectual property objects, with decisive role also for the evolution of the energy field.

WHO invents what? Women’s participation in patenting activity in Spain

PurposeRecent years have seen increased participation by women in Science and Technology activities, but parity with men remains a distant goal. This paper provides a framework for improving knowledge on the dynamics of women’s contributions to innovation, as measured through their contributions as inventors.Design/methodology/approachAnalysis was conducted using data from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database, covering over 40 years from 1976 to 2019. The study provides a breakdown of women’s inventiveness/innovation by technology area, which permits analysis of whether female inventors tend to work individually or as part of a team, as well as analysis of the effects of international networks.FindingsSpecific data have been analyzed around innovative activity by women in Spain, providing new insights on gender gaps. Key findings include those recent increases in inventions by women (as measured through patents) have occurred mostly via participation in internationally connected mixed-gender teams. Furthermore, the inventive creativity of women is found to be sector-biased and framed mainly in the chemical sector.Originality/valueThere are no similar contributions using USPTO data for Spanish inventions. This is an original paper that emphasizes the potential of collaborative networks as key driving mechanisms for the reduction of gender gaps and for the larger integration of women into innovation activities, with potential implications for stakeholders at both firm and governmental levels.

Перспективы российско-китайского сотрудничества по обмену технологиями в сфере цифровизации: текущие тенденции и перспективы

Relevance. Today, China and Russia are among the most technologically advanced countries in Asia, and the technological exchange between them in the context of the in-terest of both in each other looks a very powerful tool for further development of mutu-ally beneficial cooperation, especially given the current difficult situation in the technol-ogy market and restrictions on access to it by third countries. Problem. There are a num-ber of barriers to the development of technological cooperation between countries that do not allow us to speak with confidence about a long-term alliance; so the question of future relationships arises. Study. The authors aim to answer the question of whether the partnership between the Russian Federation and China will be a priority by examining the main indicators of the scientific development of the two countries. Results. The au-thors classify the cooperation of the technological process, and also evaluate the effec-tiveness of patent and investment activities in the countries of the Union. The main pur-pose of the article is to analyze the analysis of the technology of infection with patho-gens in order to identify bilateral benefits found on the facts. The main conclusion of the work is the answer to the question posed: the authors tend to believe that the coopera-tion between China and Russia cannot be called an alliance. The authors also offer rec-ommendations on how to improve the effectiveness of the cooperation measures taken. The most important contribution of the article is to prove that although the exchange of technology is vital for both economies, their political and economic courses are different, and the countries are united only temporarily.

Problems of patenting inventions created using artificial intelligence: doctrine and practice (р. 1)

Keywords: intellectual property, artificial intelligence, inventor, software, examination,patent, digital transformation
 The dynamics of development of theworld market of artificial intelligence (AI), patent activity in this field, problematic issuesarising in connection with the patenting of inventions created using AI are studied.Aspects of doctrine formation and policy development in the field of intellectualproperty (IP) and AI are considered. Features of examination of patentability of inventionscreated with the use of AI in different jurisdictions (EPO, USA, Germany,China), foreign legislation, doctrinal positions and case law in this field are analyzed.According to the analysis of the Artificial Inventor project, DABUS applications indicatingthe AI system as the inventor, submitted in 17 jurisdictions, were mostly rejectedat the level of IP offices and as a result of court appeals. In general, the applicantfailed to persuade the IP courts and agencies with his arguments, despite differencesin national law and patent systems. The main provisions of the draft law «OnAmendments to the Law of Ukraine «On Protection of Rights to Inventions and UtilityModels» on the regulation of relations arising in relation to inventions and utilitymodels created using artificial intelligence» are considered. It is concluded that theLaw on the Protection of Rights to Inventions and Utility Models excludes computerprograms from patented objects. Their minority is stated in the total number of filedapplications and issued patents. Between 1980 and 2018, only 740 such applicationswere published (1.26% of the total). The rules for compiling, submitting and reviewingan application for an invention (utility model) in Ukraine are outdated and do not reflectaspects of AI. Only a comprehensive approach (changes in legislation and improvementof expertise) will solve this problem.

Financial support to innovation: The role of European development financial institutions

We analyse the role of European development financial institutions (DFIs) in supporting innovation by empirically investigating the impact of their participation as investors in equity deals on target firms' patenting activity. We build a unique international data set of deals and firm-level data in the years 2007–2019. Econometric results highlight the positive contribution of DFIs in mobilizing finance to support innovation, and the magnitude of this effect is amplified when DFIs act in partnership with other investors. This represents novel evidence on the innovative-oriented mission driving their activity. These new findings point to the recent role of DFIs in sharing the management of EU financial instruments, implementing programmes to strengthen the longer-term support of finance for enterprises, and boosting innovation and growth.

How do global manufacturing shifts affect long-term clean energy innovation? A study of wind energy suppliers

Clean energy technologies are important for meeting long-term climate and competitiveness goals. But clean energy industries are part of global value chains (GVCs), where past manufacturing shifts from developed to emerging economies have raised questions on a decline in long-term innovation. Our research centers on how geographic shifts in the GVC shape long-term innovation, i.e., innovation in a time frame within which “mission-oriented”, societal, or firm strategic objectives need to be met rather than tactical, near-term market competitiveness alone. Focusing on wind energy, we introduce a temporal measure to distinguish between long-term and short-term innovation, applying natural language processing methods on patent text data. We consider supply-side value chain factors (i.e., manufacturing supplier relationships with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)) and demand-side factors (i.e., policy-induced clean energy market growth), shaping the patenting activities of 358 global specialized wind suppliers (2006–2016). Our findings suggest that the wind industry did not suppress long-term innovation during manufacturing shifts, in this case to China. After 2012 when China developed a large wind market, long-term innovation increased by 80.7% in European suppliers working with non-European OEMs (including Chinese) and by 67.2% in Chinese suppliers working with non-Chinese OEMs. Our results highlight the importance of coupling international manufacturing relationships with sizeable local demand for inducing long-term innovation. Our results advance research in innovation, GVCs, and green industrial policy with implications for several industries that can contribute to climate mitigation.

Environmental information disclosure and firms’ green innovation: Evidence from China

Environmental information regulation has attracted growing attention from policymakers and scholars. We conduct a quasi-natural experiment based on the pollution information transparency index (PITI) assessment for Chinese cities in 2008, applying the difference-in-difference-in-differences estimation to identify the impact of PITI disclosure on firms’ green innovation. Our results demonstrate that environmental information disclosure increases the green patenting activity of high-polluting firms. This positive effect is greater for firms with state ownership, non-foreign ownership, high-tech certification experience, and large firm size. We also find that increased corporate social responsibility following PITI disclosure is the main driving force for increased green patenting.

Patent activity in the field of graphene microwave path elements GHZ range from the point of view of import independence

The patent activity in the field of graphene microwave path elements the GHz range is analyzed from 2004 (the year of graphene discovery) to the present from the point of view of import independence. The articles from SCOPUS and WoS were taken into account in analysis in addition to patents. The search was conducted by countries: Russia, USA, China, India, Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, Iran, Malaysia; by branch of knowledge: technical applications, energy, applications in chemical technology, biotechnology, chemistry, applications in computer technology, applications of mathematics, also materials science and the field of physics and astronomy. The patent research methodology is based on conducting searches through a combination keywords, and IPC indexes. Statistical analysis of patent documents selected because of the search illustrates the main conclusions regarding inventive activity in the research area by IPC indices years of priority, countries.

Innovation in private and state-owned enterprises: A cross-industry analysis of patenting activity

The aim of the present paper is to compare the innovation output of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and Privately-Owned Enterprises (POEs), as measured by patent activity, taking a cross-industry perspective. Estimation results focusing on EU countries over the period 2011–2018 reveals that in some medium high-tech manufacturing industries (i.e., manufacturing of chemical products and motor-vehicles) and in the gas and electricity industries the innovative performance of SOEs is on average superior to those of POEs. No statistically significant difference can be detected in high-tech manufacturing, while in knowledge intensive services the evidence is mixed: SOEs innovation output is inferior to POEs’ in professional, scientific, and technical activities; yet SOEs outperform POEs in transport services. Overall, these results suggest that, in specific economic sectors, SOEs may act as an important vehicle for technological development.