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Inventor mobility and spillovers in the early semiconductor industry

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  • Wai, Sebastian

Abstract

This paper examines the role of inventor mobility to drive innovation spillovers in the early semiconductor industry. I employ self-collected patent data from the infrequently studied period prior to the industry's shift to Silicon Valley (1946–1959) to track inventor movement across firms and regions. I utilize patent assignments to identify inventor moves and test for increased patenting activity for firms on both sides of a move. The results show increases to patenting after a move on both sides which taper off over a period of several months. I also use the dataset to discuss the broader patterns in the industry during this period, including overall geographic and patenting trends.

Suggested Citation

  • Wai, Sebastian, 2023. "Inventor mobility and spillovers in the early semiconductor industry," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:teinso:v:75:y:2023:i:c:s0160791x23001367
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2023.102331
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Semiconductors; Spillovers; Mobility; Patents; Innovation; Inventors;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights
    • L63 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - Microelectronics; Computers; Communications Equipment
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers

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