Essays on patent systems and academic patenting

The past decade has witnessed a second academic revolution with the new role of contributing to economic growth and social development assigned to universities. A real phenomenon embedded in this new role is the right given to universities to file for a patent protection over publicly funded research and the possibility to retain financial returns from its license or selling. The aim of this thesis is to better understand this phenomenon and its relationship to scientific production. Starting with the role patents pay in stimulating innovation, Chapter 2 assesses the cost of rewarding and enfo... Mehr ...