The technology transfer of the Italian public research system: the case of the National Research Council of Italy

Author : Giovanni Abramo

Addresses:
CNR and University of Rome 
Tor Vergata
, Italy, DISP, Via del Politecnico 1, 00133 Roma, Italy

Abstract: This paper deals with the technology transfer activities of the main public research institution in Italy, the Italian Research Council, CNR. A comparative analysis on patenting and licensing performances between CNR and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT has been carried out. Findings show that: research expenses being equal, CNR patents are 26% of MIT's; and, patents being equal, CNR licenses are also 26% of MIT's. This means that CNR impact on domestic competitiveness, in terms of patent licenses, is less than 7% of MIT's. Moreover, while 83% of CNR patents are never licensed to domestic industry, the Italian technology balance of payments shows a perennial deficit. The paper concludes with the identification of the possible causes that may explain such a gap.

Keywords: licensing; patenting; public R&D returns; technology transfer; research and development; Italy; National Research Council; CNR; MIT; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; patents.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTTC.2006.013342

Int. J. of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, 2006 Vol.5, No.4, pp.338 - 354

Available online: 21 Apr 2007
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