Patent Analysis

1
Patent Analysis

• Maryann Feldman
• Research Assessment
• Whats Next?

2
Points Covered

• How patents inform evaluation of science-based
  activity
• Using patents to link basic science and
  commercial activity

3
A Window on Inventive Activity

• Time Series
• Patent data elements
• Inventors
• Assignees
• Abstract
• Citations
• Prior patents
• Literature

4
Limitations on Use of Patents

• Not all inventive activity is patented
• Trade secrets
• The vagaries of the process
• Time-lag
• Technical requirements
• Not all patents indicate useful activity
• Incentives
• Blocking patents

5
Patents as a Metric

• Computerization of the USPTO records
• Developing literature
• An output measure of inventive activity
• Production Function
• An input measure of inventive activity
• Firm Performance
• Provide link between science to commercial
  activity

6
Bioscience Patent Links

• NIH Funding
• Patents
• Companies

7
Industrial Forensics

• CRISP data all NIH awards from 1973
• Only P.I. listed
• No award amounts after 1998
• Patents
• Strategic alliances
• Companies
• Lack of comprehensive data
• Tracking problem

8
Insights for Evaluation

• Long and winding road
• Time frame
• Not direct path to commercialization
• Serendipity
• Right place, right time
• Strategic adaptation
• Importance of failure

9
Research Plans

• Tracking the Maryland Companies over time
• Survival and growth of existing entities
• Formation and spin-off of new firms
• Studying an Industry by Studying Firms
• National Level Study
• Link Scientific expertise to commercial activity
• Cant duplicate but testable hypothesis emerge

10
Preliminary Findings

• The geographic distribution of companies is more
  disperse
• But, more geographically specialized
• NIH Funding?
• Turbulence and growth of companies?
• New fields/applications?