Who Invents IT An Analysis of Womens Participation in IT Patenting

1
Who Invents IT?An Analysis of Womens
Participation in IT Patenting

• Catherine Ashcraft, Ph.D.
• NCWIT Research Scientist
• NCWIT Meetings, November 2007

2
Why study gender and patenting?

• Key way to make diversity matter contribute to
  improved innovation and product development
• Patenting is one imperfect, but important,
  measure
• Indication of extent to which women are
  participating in the rewarded aspects of IT

3
Some Key Findings, 1980-2005
4
In Summary

• Overall, 4.7 of U.S. invented patents are
  invented by women
• Rate has increased from 1.7 - 6.1 in last 25
  years
• Mixed gender patents most highly cited

5
Workshop

• Background
• Key Findings
• Implications for Practice
• Directions for Research