Abstract Title: | Measuring technological change through patents and innovation surveys |
Presenter Name: | Mr NANA KWAKU BOATENG |
Company/Organisation: | NANA K. BOATENG ENTERPRISE |
Country: | Ghana |
Abstract Information :
This article provides an overview of recent research using innovation surveys and
patent data as indicators of technological activity. The conceptual and methodological
problems of 'measuring' technology are discussed, with a classification of the types of
information which can be drawn from patent databases and from surveys of both
innovations and the innovative efforts of firms.
The findings and the methodological strengths and weaknesses of such studies are
reviewed, considering first the evidence at the firm level, second the analysis of the
industrial structure and finally the evidence at the country level and the process of
globalization. The overview shows that rich and important evidence on the technological
activities of firms is offered by these indicators. A summary of new departures for
research based on innovation and patent data concludes the paper