Patenting in Academia and Industry: Determining Novelty and Scope in Two Distinct Research and Development Sectors, 1992-1995

<p>Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.</p>Patenting is seen as an important part of technology transfer from the public sector research base (PSRB) to industry. Policies and legislative changes that encourage patenting in the PSRB have been developed over the past decade in the US, Europe and elsewhere. This research challenges the assumptions that lie behind these initiatives. It reports on the first national survey and detailed case analyses of patenting activity in British universities discussing a number of major demands that their engagement with the Intellectual Property (IP) system makes. The research describes these as 'sociotechnical competencies' and explores them sociologically through a detailed study of the construction of 'novelty' and 'scope' in patenting within biotechnology and pharmacology research departments in British universities. It also compares university and industrial practice in patenting for the same sectors. The research shows how the relation between PSRB and patenting is not only more complex than government agencies assume but can also work against so-called 'technology transfer'.<br> <br> The collection consists of 50 interviews, and 34 survey responses.<B>Main Topics</B>:<br>Main topics include: sociology of science; sociology of technology; intellectual property; patents; patenting; scientific innovations; technology transfer; scientific research; universities