Exploring the flow of publicly-funded research into commercialised inventions

2021 Fiscal Year Research-status Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K13360
• Research Institution: Hitotsubashi University
• Principal Investigator: Higham Kyle 一橋大学, 大学院経営管理研究科, 特任助教 (00886666)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: Science of science / Product development / Public science / Patenting

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

The purpose of this research is to assess the extent to which public science flows into commercial products. Detailed data on public funding is not as forthcoming as anticipated, so we have pivoted slightly to ensure that we can publish high-quality work with what is available to us. In particular, we adopt a case-control empirical strategy that matches commercialised patents with similar non-commercialsed patents, and compare their respective dependencies on science. We are able to observe differences in the type, age, and source of the science that is cited by the two groups, and incorporate information about distance from science for those patents with indirect links. It was vital to implement an appropriate empirical methodology to correctly identify these effects, and so we have spent much time refining this aspect of the project.

In sum, we have completed the data set construction and the analytical pipeline for this research. While we are still gathering and interpreting the results, literature review and extensive descriptions of our unique analytic strategies have been written up.

We have also begun a more focused case-study about alternative pathways for science to influence commercial products in the context of a cutting-edge field - regenerative medicine. Due to heavy regulation, firms hoping to commercialise their discoveries in this field must submit many public regulatory documents, which contain references to the science they utilise. This work will provide a complementary view of public science dependence that is less dependent on US patent information.

Current Status of Research Progress

2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.

Reason

While we have run into some roadblocks with data access, we have still managed to progress to the point where we can start to share our research results on time. We have also started a complementary project with the same goals, which we did not anticipate having time for, but this now seems feasible.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

We are happy with our analytical pipeline and empirical strategies, and are currently incorporating new data into this pipeline so we are able to better interpret our results. This process will likely take another one-two months, after which we can finish a preliminary working paper to be submitted to international conferences.

The alternative approach that uses regulatory documents instead of patents is in the data collection stage, but as this is much smaller in scope, we expect to see some preliminary results by the end of Summer 2022. A short working paper will likely be complete before the end of 2022. This work was not described explicitly in the initial research plan but is in the same vein. Whereas patent documents, and virtual patent marks, are inherently incomplete with respect to new innovations or products in a particular industry, structured regulatory documents are actually necessary for commercialisation of a medical product. This gives us a much more complete view of the flow of public research into the industry of commercial regenerative medicine, that will complement the patent approach despite its smaller scope.

Causes of Carryover

COVID19's continued impact on academic conferences meant that I did not require funds for travel, which I had anticipated to consume most of my expenses for R3. I will be applying for as many conferences as is reasonable for the coming year.