Abstract
Drawing its insights from traditions in scientometrics, this paper proposes to gather data by computing the number of patents granted rather than applications for them. Given the precedent set by the Frascati manual, which prompted countries to compute data on the R&D of institutional sectors and to exclude the contribution of households, it is recommended to distinguish clearly between independent and institutional inventors. This paper also suggests computing data for multiple addresses in order to reveal patterns of collaboration. Finally, it is important to consider that patents are not only an indicator of novelty but also an indicator of intellectual property, hence, the paper suggests measuring both dimensions.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
OECD, OECD Science, Technology and Industry Scoreboard 1999: Benchmarking Knowledge-Based Economies, OECD, Paris, 1999a.
WIPO, Industrial Property Statistics Publication A 1999, World Intellectual Property Organization, Genève, 2000.
A. Zoppè, Les brevets dans l'UE: perspectives internationales, nationales et régionales, Statistiques en bref. Science et technologie, Theme 9-4/2001. KS-NS-01-004-FR-I, Eurostat, Luxembourg, 2001.
B. L. Basberg, Patents and the measurement of technological change: a survey of the literature, Research Policy, 16 (1987) 131-141.
U. Schmoch, H. Grupp, W. Mannsbart, B. Schwitall, Technikprognosen mit Patentindikatoren Verlag TÑV-Rheinlan, Köln, 1988.
NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD, Science and Engineering Indicators-2000, National Science Foundation, Arlington (VA), 2000.
H. Ernst, Patent applications and subsequent changes of performance: Evidence from time-series cross-section analyses on the firm level, Research Policy, 30 (2001) 143-157.
F. Scherer, Firm size, market structure, opportunity and the output of patented inventions, American Economic Review, 55 (1965) 1097-1125.
J. Schmookler, Invention and Economic Growth, Harvard U. Press, Cambridge (Ma), 1966.
Z. Griliches, Patents statistics as economic indicators: a survey, Journal of Economic Literature, 18 (1990) 1669.
F. Narin, D. Olivastro, Technology indicators based on patents and patent citations, In: A. F. J. Van raan (Ed.), Handbook of Quantitative Studies of Science and Technology, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1988, 465-507.
OECD, Main Science and Technology Indicators No.2, 2000, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris, 2001, 67.
USPTO, U.S. Patent Activity. Calendar Years 1790-2000, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Technology Assessment and Forecast Branch, Washington (D.C.), 2001.
EPO, Annual Report 1999, European Patent Office, Munich, 2000.
USPTO, Historic Patent Counts by Country/State and Year. Utility Patents. January 1, 1963-December 31, 1983, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Technology Assessment and Forecast Branch, Washington (D.C.), 1988.
USPTO, Patent Counts by Country/State and Year. Utility Patents. January 1, 1963-June 30, 2000 U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Technology Assessment and Forecast Branch, Washington (D.C.), 2000.
USPTO, Number of Utility Patent Applications Filed in the United States, by Country of Origin. Calendar Year 1965 to Present, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Technology Assessment and Forecast Branch, Washington (D.C.), 2000.
OECD, The Measurement of Scientific and Technological Activities: Proposed standard practice for surveys of research and experimental development (Frascati Manual 1993, 5th Edition), Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris, 1994.
F. Amesse, C. Desranleau, H. Etemad, Y. Fortier, L. SÉguin-dulude, The individual inventor and the role of entrepreneurship: A survey of the Canadian evidence, Research Policy, 20 (1991) 14-15.
L. SÉguin-Dulude, C. DÉranleau, The Individual Canadian Inventor, 88-510, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, 1989.
J. Rossman, B. S. Sanders, The Patent Utilization Study, Patent, Trademark, and Copyright Journal of Research and Education (IDEA), 1 (1957) 74-111.
O. J. Firestone, Economic Implications of Patents, University of Ottawa Press, Ottawa, 1971.
S. Macdonald, The Individual Inventor in Australia, University of Queensland (Department of Economics), 1982.
G. Sirilli, Patents and Inventors: an Empirical Study, Research Policy, 16 (1978) 157-174.
L. G. Soete, S. Wyatt, The use of foreign patenting as an internationally comparable science and technology output indicator, Scientometrics, 5 (1983) 31-54.
OECD, Manual on Globalisation Indicators. Chapter 3 Internationalisation of Technology. Part 2: Patent Based Indicators of Internationalisation, DSTI/IND/STP/SWP/NESTI(99)1/PART2, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris, 1999b, 4.
K. Pavitt, Uses and abuses of patent statistics, In: Van Raan, A. F. J. (Ed.), Handbook of Quantitative Studies of Science and Technology, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1988, 513.
OECD, The Internationalisation of Technology Analysed with Patent Data, DSTI/EAS/STP/ NESTI(99)3, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris, 1999c, 4.
J. O. Lanjouw, A. Pakes, J. Putnam, How to Count Patents and Value Intellectual Property: The Uses of Patent Renewal and Application Data, The Journal of Industrial Economics, XLVI (1998) 405-432.
OECD, Patent Families: Methodology. DSTI/EAS/STP/NESTI(2001)11. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris, 2001.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Archambault, É. Methods for using patents in cross-country comparisons. Scientometrics 54, 15–30 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015654903218
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015654903218