Call for Papers: Journal of Industrial Economics
Special Issue on “Patents, Innovation and Entrepreneurship”
The Journal of Industrial Economics is sponsoring a special issue to be edited by Mark
Schankerman (London School of Economics), and co-sponsored by U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, and the London School of
Economics. The issue will focus on microeconomic research – both applied theory and
empirical studies – on the impact of patents on innovation, entrepreneurship and the
market for new technology. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
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how patents affect access to venture capital and other finance for new firms
the enforcement of patent rights by both small and large firms, and the impact of
this on innovation incentives and R&D strategies
institutional mechanisms to facilitate more effective enforcement of patent rights,
with particular (not exclusive) focus on small firms
the impact of the market for technology (licensing and sale of patents) on innovation
incentives and R&D strategies
patent thickets and their effects on innovation and the market for technology
impact of legal institutions and rules on patent enforcement, innovation incentives
and R&D strategies, and potential reforms
how patents affect the choice between intra-firm and external exploitation of
innovation (e.g. start-ups and spin-offs)
impact of patents on the rate and geography of knowledge diffusion
the role of patents in academic entrepreneurship and innovation
Authors are invited to submit proposals for the special issue. We encourage submissions by
economists and legal scholars on both empirical studies and applied theory. Submissions
can be draft papers as well as earlier-stage scientific proposals. The deadline for submissions
is 1 May 2011. Submissions must include either (1) a draft paper; or (2) a detailed
description of the proposed paper with description of the dataset to be used, if relevant
(maximum 2500 words). Submissions should be sent to: Pierre Regibeau, Department of
Economics, University of Essex, Colchester E04 3SQ, UK ([email protected]). A decision on
papers/proposals to be included will be made by 1 June 2011.
There will be a formal conference for the presentation and discussion of the papers, which
will be held at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Global Intellectual Property Academy
in Alexandria, Virginia (USA) in April 2012. Travel and accommodation expenses for
participants will be covered. Prior to attending the conference, authors will be expected to
submit their working paper to the Entrepreneurship Research & Policy Network (ERPN) on
the Social Science Research Network (SSRN). After revisions of the papers, and an expedited
refereeing process, a final decision on papers to be published will be made. Plans are to
publish as the December 2012 issue of the Journal of Industrial Economics.