This project aims to empirically analyze the commercialization process of intellectual capital in Sweden by following patents. Four research questions are analyzed:
- Why or why not patents are commercialized;
What determines the choice of type of commercialization (selling, licensing, or commercializing in existing or new firms);
Factors that affect the outcome of the commercialization;
The reasons why patents are renewed or expired.
There is a special focus on the role of public financing systems and business angles. A unique database on Swedish patents owned by inventors and small firms is used. The database builds on a survey with a response frequency of 80 per cent.