Assessing the patenting activity in the Italian universities: the case of the biotechnology research

Research productivity measured using patent-based indexes is a useful measure of the effectiveness of scientists’ efforts to produce useful knowledge. In this paper, a theoretical framework and a method based on patent analysis are proposed to understand determinants of research productivity. The framework assumes that research productivity is dependent on the knowledge search behaviour pursued by scientists. Three dimensions of search are taken in account: search type, search focus and search dynamics. Using data relative to 873 biotechnology patents granted from 1960 to 2007 to 255 academic scholars that are affiliated to 36 Italian universities, this paper investigates if university research productivity is positively affected by particular knowledge search behaviours pursued by its academic staff. Indexes to qualify knowledge search are built and measured. Two different profiles of knowledge search behaviours were clearly identified, one associated to highresearch productivity and the other to low research productivity.