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Science and technology parks and their effects on the quality of tenants’ patents

Author

Listed:
  • Marcos Anton-Tejon

    (Universidad de Málaga)

  • Catalina Martinez

    (Spanish National Research Council (CSIC))

  • Alberto Albahari

    (Universidad de Málaga)

  • Andrés Barge-Gil

    (Universidad Complutense de Madrid)

Abstract

Science and technology parks (STPs) have proliferated in many countries as an innovation policy tool. Several studies have used patent counts to assess their impact on innovation performance rather than the quality of patents, leading to mixed results. The aim of this paper is to explore whether STPs contribute to increasing the quality of patents filed by tenants since patent counts alone do not capture the technological or economic value of the patented inventions. Using a novel database of Spanish patents generated on- and off-park together with firms’ characteristics, we compare the quality of patents filed by firms located inside and outside STPs and find that STPs have a positive effect on the quality of the tenants’ innovative performance. We apply a novel econometric technique to confirm that our results are robust to omitted variable bias and explore possible channels through which STPs produce an effect on patent quality, such as by facilitating collaboration, increasing collaboration with universities, and fostering the internationalisation of inventions.

Suggested Citation

  • Marcos Anton-Tejon & Catalina Martinez & Alberto Albahari & Andrés Barge-Gil, 2024. "Science and technology parks and their effects on the quality of tenants’ patents," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(5), pages 1846-1879, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jtecht:v:49:y:2024:i:5:d:10.1007_s10961-023-10060-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s10961-023-10060-8
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    Cited by:

    1. Anton-Tejon, Marcos & Barge-Gil, Andrés & Albahari, Alberto, 2024. "Medium-term regional effect of Science and Technology Parks: a staggered difference-in-difference approach," MPRA Paper 122467, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. FUKUGAWA Nobuya & CHANG Kuo-I, 2025. "Science Parks in Taiwan and Their Value-adding Contributions," Discussion papers 25005, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Science and technology parks; Innovation performance; Patent quality; Innovation; Innovation policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes

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