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Knowledge flows, firms' competencies, and patent citations: an analysis of the trajectory of IBM

Author

Listed:
  • Jorge Britto

    (UFF, Brazil)

  • Leonardo Costa Ribeiro

    (Inmetro, Brazil)

  • Lucas Araújo

    (UFF, Brazil)

  • Eduardo da Motta e Albuquerque

    (CEDEPLAR/UFMG, Brazil)

Abstract

In a knowledge economy, the creation, distribution and use of knowledge become decisive factors to reinforce firms' competitiveness. At the firm level, the process of innovation involves, fundamentally, the creation of new knowledge, which implies the integration and recombination of existing knowledge that may come from different sources and locations. The analytical difficulties to deal with this subject generate a literature that tries to quantify and analyze knowledge flows between economic agents using patent citations. Those citations may provide clues for intra and inter-firms knowledge flows. The paper analyses information about patents granted by IBM in the USPTO, which is used to map knowledge flows and to correlate these flows with the evolution of IBM competences and growth strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Jorge Britto & Leonardo Costa Ribeiro & Lucas Araújo & Eduardo da Motta e Albuquerque, 2017. "Knowledge flows, firms' competencies, and patent citations: an analysis of the trajectory of IBM," Textos para Discussão Cedeplar-UFMG 561, Cedeplar, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais.
    • Handle: RePEc:cdp:texdis:td561
    as

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    File URL: https://www.cedeplar.ufmg.br/pesquisas/td/TD%20561.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Patent Citations; Knowledge flows; Firms Competences; IBM Competences; IBM Strategy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • O34 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Intellectual Property and Intellectual Capital
    • O39 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Other

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