A Dynamic Count Data Analysis of University Ag-Biotech Patents

This paper examines the factors that account for ag-biotech patenting success among universities using a dynamic count data model. It builds a theoretical and econometric model to capture the inherently dynamic and nonlinear process of technological innovation, wherein a feedback mechanism from previous success partially determines current patent counts. The econometric estimates reveal the importance to ag-biotech patent production of land grant infrastructure, quality faculty, state and institutional funding, patent-oriented technology transfer offices, as well as dynamic feedback effects.