| By: |
Devrim Göktepe (Max Planck Institute of Economics);
Prashanth Mahagaonkar (Max Planck Institute of Economics) |
| Abstract: |
What makes scientists patent and disclose inventions to employers? Using a new
dataset on Max Planck scientists, we explore their motivations to patent
and/or disclose inventions. We propose that patenting need not be used for
monetary benefits. Scientists value reputation as important use patenting and
disclosures as a signal to gain it. We find that it is not monetary benefits
that drive patenting and disclosures but expectation of reputation. We also
find that experience with the employer matters for disclosure of inventions.
This may imply that patents are indeed used as information transfer mechanisms
with prime motivation being reputation. |
| Keywords: |
university patenting, inventors, incentives |
| JEL: |
B31 C12 O31 O34 |
| Date: |
2008–04–08 |
| URL: |
https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:jrp:jrpwrp:2008-032 |