Diffusion of knowledge in the biotechnology sector

University of Wroclaw, Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics, pl. Uniwersytecki 1, Wrocław, Poland

^* Corresponding author: malgorzata.niklewicz-pijaczynska@uwr.edu.pl

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to analyze the use of existing legally protected solutions an. publications made available through patent systems for the development of further biotechnological inventions. For its implementation, was conducted research based on the so-called patent citations of two kinds - to literature and previously published, other patents. For the needs of the paper, technical documentation of 88 patents in the resources of the Polish Patent Office and Espacenet was analyzed. The study includes 40 Polish biotechnology companies with significant innovation activity. The results of the conducted research allow to formulate two conclusions. First, the knowledge obtained from patent resources plays an important role in the innovation process of inventions in the biotechnology sector. Secondly, this knowledge is characterized by a high degree of internationalization, first of all are cited foreign inventions and source literature, domestic citations appear relatively rarely. Among observed references, citing American achievements plays a dominant role – this applies to both literature and inventions, which suggests that the US patent system is the main source of patent knowledge for Polish biotechnology companies.