SUMMARY
Success of patented university inventions
The study investigates three questions on the success of patented university inventions
in Germany. How successful are patented university inventions from a business perspective?
How successful are patented university inventions from a societal
perspective? What would be suitable measures to increase the success of patented university
inventions?
To discuss the success from a business perspective, this study covers the number of patented
university inventions, their profitability for universities as well as the effect of
patents on third party funding and reputation. From 2002–2013, an average 2,300 patents
based on university inventions were filed in Germany, which corresponds to 5.2%
of all patents filed by German applicants. About one third of these patents were filed by
universities (university patents) and about two thirds by other institutions like industrial
companies (corporate academic patents). From 2010–2013, the number of patents filed
by universities declined, as universities are trying to reduce their patenting costs. Analyses
on the profitability of university patents show that in most cases the revenues
generated by universities are significantly lower than the costs of patenting. However,
discussions with university patenting executives indicate that many of them are not fully
aware of this situation. Also, the fact that the share of university patents sold to companies
– which is often less profitable than granting licenses – increased from 2002–2013
is rather surprising from a perspective of efficient use of public resources. Another positive
effect of patented university inventions from a business perspective is their
assumed effect on the acquisition of third party funding. The study cannot prove this
effect on a quantitative level. However, the rationales described by several experts interviewed
seem reasonable and serve as an argument for the success of patented
university inventions.
To discuss the success of patented university inventions from a societal perspective,
patent indicators based on bibliographic patent data and the effect of patents on the job
market are analyzed. The analyses of patent indicators show that patented university
inventions contribute significantly to technological advancement, as they receive on
average more forward citations, are more general, and more radical compared to patents
in general. An initial estimate of university patents on the job market shows that about
1,800 jobs are linked to university patents. Even though a direct link between these jobs
and university patents cannot be proven, the number serves as an initial indication of the
impact university patents have on the job market.
