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8 - Scientist Commercialization and Knowledge Transfer?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2012

By
David B. Audretsch ,
Taylor Aldridge  and
Alexander Oettl
Edited by
Zoltan J. Acs ,
David B. Audretsch  and
Robert J. Strom
David B. Audretsch
Affiliation:
Max Planck Institute of Economics; Indiana University
Taylor Aldridge
Affiliation:
Max Planck Institute of Economics; University of Augsburg
Alexander Oettl
Affiliation:
Max Planck Institute of Economics; University of Toronto
Zoltan J. Acs
Affiliation:
George Mason School of Public Policy, Fairfax
David B. Audretsch
Affiliation:
Indiana University, Bloomington
Robert J. Strom
Affiliation:
Kauffman Foundation, Kansas City
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Summary

Introduction

How and why do scientists decide to commercialize their scientific research? The answers to these questions are important not only to institutions and scientists engaged in research, but also to policymakers trying to promote economic growth. New Endogenous Growth models and theories highlight the central role that investments in scientific research, or knowledge, play in generating economic growth (Romer, 1986; and Lucas, 1993). More recently, policymakers, serving local communities, states and nations have observed that these investments in knowledge do not automatically generate economic growth. Rather, what Acs et al. (2004) and Audretsch et al. (2006) term the knowledge filter prevents or slows employment creation and economic growth that could otherwise result from public and private investments in science and research. The combination of large investments in research with low rates of economic growth and employment generation, first found in Sweden, was called the Swedish Paradox. Later as it was found in other European nations, the problem was redubbed the European Paradox. Acs et al. (2004) and Audretsch et al. (2006) identify the commercialization of science and research as the missing link in the process of economic growth. In the absence of scientist commercialization of research, investments in science and research will not generate economic growth or jobs.

The purpose of this study is to understand how and why scientists commercialize research. We do this by analyzing the propensity of scientists receiving National Cancer Institute (NCI) grants to commercialize their research.

Type
Chapter
Information
Entrepreneurship, Growth, and Public Policy , pp. 176 - 201
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2009

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References

Acs, Zoltan J., and Armington, Catherine. 2006. Entrepreneurship, Geography and American Economic Growth. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Acs, Zoltan J., Audretsch, David B., Braunerhjelm, Pontus, and Carlsson, Bo. 2004. “The Missing Link: The Knowledge Filter and Entrepreneurship in Economic Growth.” CERP working paper 4783.Google Scholar
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Audretsch, David B. 1995. Innovation and Industry Evolution. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press.Google Scholar
Audretsch, David B. 2003. “Standing on the Shoulders of Midgets: The U.S. Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR).” Small Business Economics, 20(2), 129–135.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Audretsch, David B., and Feldman, Maryann P.. 1996. “R&D Spillovers and the Geography of Innovation and Production.” American Economic Review, 86(3), 630–640.Google Scholar
Audretsch, David B., and Stephan, Paula E.. 2000. The Economics of Science and Innovation. London: Edward Elgar.Google Scholar
Audretsch, David B., and Stephan, Paula E.. 1996. “Company-Scientist Locational Links: The Case of Biotechnology.” American Economic Review, 86(3), 641–652.Google Scholar
Audretsch, David B., Link, Albert N., and Scott, John T.. 2002. “Public/Private Technology Partnerships: Evaluating SBIR-Supported Research.” Research Policy, 31(1), 145–158.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Audretsch, David B., Keilbach, Max C., and Lehmann, Erik E.. 2006. Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth. New York: Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Audretsch, David B., Weigand, Jürgen, and Weigand, Claudia. 2002. “The Impact of the SBIR on Creating Entrepreneurial Behavior.” Economic Development Quarterly, 16(1), 32–38.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dasgupta, Partha, and David, Paul A.. 1994. “Toward a New Economics of Science.” Research Policy, 23(5), 487–521.Google Scholar
Feldman, M. P., and Desrochers, P.. 2004. “Truth for Its Own Sake: Academic Culture and Technology Transfer at the Johns Hopkins University.” Minerva, 42(2), 105–126.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Glaeser, Edward, Kallal, Hedi, Scheinkman, Jose, and Shleifer, Andrei. 1992. “Growth in Cities.” Journal of Political Economy, 100(6), 1126–1152.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Griliches, Zvi. 1979. “Issues in Assessing the Contribution of R&D to Productivity Growth.” Bell Journal of Economics, 10(1), 92–116.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Henderson, Rebecca, Jaffe, Adam B., and Trajtenberg, Manuel. 1998. “Universities as a Source of Commercial Technology: A Detailed Analysis of University Patenting, 1965–1988.” Review of Economics & Statistics, 80(1), 119–127.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jaffe, Adam. 1989. “Real Effects of Academic Research.” American Economic Review, 79(5), 957–970.Google Scholar
Jaffe, Adam, and Lerner, Josh. 2001. “Reinventing Public R&D: Patent Policy and the Commercialization of National Laboratory Technologies.” Rand Journal of Economics, 32(1), 167–198.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jaffe, Adam, Trajtenberg, Manuel, and Henderson, Rebecca. 1993. “Geographic Localization of Knowledge Spillovers as Evidenced by Patent Citations.” Quarterly Journal of Economics, 108(3), 577–598.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jensen, Richard, and Thursby, Marie. 2001. “Proofs and Prototypes for Sale: The Licensing of University Inventions.” American Economic Review, 91(1), 240–259.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lerner, Josh. 1999. “The Government as Venture Capitalist: The Long-Run Impact of the SBIR Program.” Journal of Business, 72(3), 285–318.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Levin, Sharon G., and Stephan, Paula E.. 1991. “Research Productivity over the Life Cycle: Evidence for Academic Scientists.” American Economic Review, 81(1), 114–132.Google Scholar
Louis, Karen S., Blumenthal, David, Gluck, Michael E., and Stoto, Michael A.. 1989. “Entrepreneurs in Academe: An Exploration of Behaviors among Life Scientists.” Administrative Science Quarterly, 34, 110–131.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lucas, Robert E. 1993, “Making a Miracle.” Econometrica, 61(2), 251–272.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mowery, David C., Nelson, Richard R., Sampat, Bhaven N., and Ziedonis, Arvids. 2004. Ivory Tower and Industrial Innovation. Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press.Google Scholar
Mowery, David C. 2005. “The Bayh-Dole Act and High-Technology Entrepreneurship in U.S. Universities: Chicken, Egg, or Something Else?” In Liebcap, Gary, ed., University Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfers. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 38–68.Google Scholar
Romer, Paul M. 1986. “Increasing Returns and Long-Run Growth.” Journal of Political Economy, 94(5), 1002–1037.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shane, Scott. 2004. Academic Entrepreneurship: University Spinoffs and Wealth Creation. Cheltenham, U.K.: Edward Elgar Publishing.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stephan, Paula E., and Levin, Sharon G.. 1992. Striking the Mother Lode in Science. New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Thursby, Jerry, and Thursby, Marie C.. 2005. “Gender Patterns of Research and Licensing Activity of Science and Engineering Faculty.” Journal of Technology Transfer, 30(4), 343–353.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thursby, Jerry, Jensen, Richard, and Thursby, Marie C.. 2001. “Objectives, Characteristics and Outcomes of University Licensing: A Survey of Major U.S. Universities.” Journal of Technology Transfer, 26, 59–72.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thursby, Marie, and Jensen, Richard. 2004. “Patent Licensing and the Research University.” NBER Working Paper 10758.Google Scholar
Toole, Andrew, and Czarnitzki, Dirk. 2005. “Biomedical Academic Entrepreneurship through the SBIR Program.” NBER Working Paper 11450.Google Scholar
Wessner, Charles. 2000. The Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR). Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.Google Scholar
Zucker, Lynn G., and Darby, Michael R.. 1998. “Intellectual Human Capital and the Birth of U.S. Biotechnology Enterprises.” American Economic Review, 88, 290–306.Google Scholar
Acs, Zoltan J., and Armington, Catherine. 2006. Entrepreneurship, Geography and American Economic Growth. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Acs, Zoltan J., Audretsch, David B., Braunerhjelm, Pontus, and Carlsson, Bo. 2004. “The Missing Link: The Knowledge Filter and Entrepreneurship in Economic Growth.” CERP working paper 4783.Google Scholar
Arrow, Kenneth J. 1962. “Economic Welfare and the Allocation of Resources for Invention.” In Nelson, Richard, ed., The Rate and Direction of Inventive Activity. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 609–626.Google Scholar
,Association of University Technology Managers. 2004. “Recollections: Celebrating the History of AUTUM and the Legacy of Bayh-Dole.”
Audretsch, David B. 1995. Innovation and Industry Evolution. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press.Google Scholar
Audretsch, David B. 2003. “Standing on the Shoulders of Midgets: The U.S. Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR).” Small Business Economics, 20(2), 129–135.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Audretsch, David B., and Feldman, Maryann P.. 1996. “R&D Spillovers and the Geography of Innovation and Production.” American Economic Review, 86(3), 630–640.Google Scholar
Audretsch, David B., and Stephan, Paula E.. 2000. The Economics of Science and Innovation. London: Edward Elgar.Google Scholar
Audretsch, David B., and Stephan, Paula E.. 1996. “Company-Scientist Locational Links: The Case of Biotechnology.” American Economic Review, 86(3), 641–652.Google Scholar
Audretsch, David B., Link, Albert N., and Scott, John T.. 2002. “Public/Private Technology Partnerships: Evaluating SBIR-Supported Research.” Research Policy, 31(1), 145–158.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Audretsch, David B., Keilbach, Max C., and Lehmann, Erik E.. 2006. Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth. New York: Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Audretsch, David B., Weigand, Jürgen, and Weigand, Claudia. 2002. “The Impact of the SBIR on Creating Entrepreneurial Behavior.” Economic Development Quarterly, 16(1), 32–38.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dasgupta, Partha, and David, Paul A.. 1994. “Toward a New Economics of Science.” Research Policy, 23(5), 487–521.Google Scholar
Feldman, M. P., and Desrochers, P.. 2004. “Truth for Its Own Sake: Academic Culture and Technology Transfer at the Johns Hopkins University.” Minerva, 42(2), 105–126.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Glaeser, Edward, Kallal, Hedi, Scheinkman, Jose, and Shleifer, Andrei. 1992. “Growth in Cities.” Journal of Political Economy, 100(6), 1126–1152.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Griliches, Zvi. 1979. “Issues in Assessing the Contribution of R&D to Productivity Growth.” Bell Journal of Economics, 10(1), 92–116.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Henderson, Rebecca, Jaffe, Adam B., and Trajtenberg, Manuel. 1998. “Universities as a Source of Commercial Technology: A Detailed Analysis of University Patenting, 1965–1988.” Review of Economics & Statistics, 80(1), 119–127.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jaffe, Adam. 1989. “Real Effects of Academic Research.” American Economic Review, 79(5), 957–970.Google Scholar
Jaffe, Adam, and Lerner, Josh. 2001. “Reinventing Public R&D: Patent Policy and the Commercialization of National Laboratory Technologies.” Rand Journal of Economics, 32(1), 167–198.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jaffe, Adam, Trajtenberg, Manuel, and Henderson, Rebecca. 1993. “Geographic Localization of Knowledge Spillovers as Evidenced by Patent Citations.” Quarterly Journal of Economics, 108(3), 577–598.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jensen, Richard, and Thursby, Marie. 2001. “Proofs and Prototypes for Sale: The Licensing of University Inventions.” American Economic Review, 91(1), 240–259.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lerner, Josh. 1999. “The Government as Venture Capitalist: The Long-Run Impact of the SBIR Program.” Journal of Business, 72(3), 285–318.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Levin, Sharon G., and Stephan, Paula E.. 1991. “Research Productivity over the Life Cycle: Evidence for Academic Scientists.” American Economic Review, 81(1), 114–132.Google Scholar
Louis, Karen S., Blumenthal, David, Gluck, Michael E., and Stoto, Michael A.. 1989. “Entrepreneurs in Academe: An Exploration of Behaviors among Life Scientists.” Administrative Science Quarterly, 34, 110–131.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lucas, Robert E. 1993, “Making a Miracle.” Econometrica, 61(2), 251–272.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mowery, David C., Nelson, Richard R., Sampat, Bhaven N., and Ziedonis, Arvids. 2004. Ivory Tower and Industrial Innovation. Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press.Google Scholar
Mowery, David C. 2005. “The Bayh-Dole Act and High-Technology Entrepreneurship in U.S. Universities: Chicken, Egg, or Something Else?” In Liebcap, Gary, ed., University Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfers. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 38–68.Google Scholar
Romer, Paul M. 1986. “Increasing Returns and Long-Run Growth.” Journal of Political Economy, 94(5), 1002–1037.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shane, Scott. 2004. Academic Entrepreneurship: University Spinoffs and Wealth Creation. Cheltenham, U.K.: Edward Elgar Publishing.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stephan, Paula E., and Levin, Sharon G.. 1992. Striking the Mother Lode in Science. New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Thursby, Jerry, and Thursby, Marie C.. 2005. “Gender Patterns of Research and Licensing Activity of Science and Engineering Faculty.” Journal of Technology Transfer, 30(4), 343–353.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thursby, Jerry, Jensen, Richard, and Thursby, Marie C.. 2001. “Objectives, Characteristics and Outcomes of University Licensing: A Survey of Major U.S. Universities.” Journal of Technology Transfer, 26, 59–72.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thursby, Marie, and Jensen, Richard. 2004. “Patent Licensing and the Research University.” NBER Working Paper 10758.Google Scholar
Toole, Andrew, and Czarnitzki, Dirk. 2005. “Biomedical Academic Entrepreneurship through the SBIR Program.” NBER Working Paper 11450.Google Scholar
Wessner, Charles. 2000. The Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR). Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.Google Scholar
Zucker, Lynn G., and Darby, Michael R.. 1998. “Intellectual Human Capital and the Birth of U.S. Biotechnology Enterprises.” American Economic Review, 88, 290–306.Google Scholar

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