Seminar  |  20.03.2024 | 15:00  –  16:15

Innovation & Entrepreneurship Seminar: Don’t Throw the Baby Out With the Bathwater – Firm Response to Downstream Product Shocks

Matt Higgins (University of Utah)


hybrid (Raum 313/Zoom)

We explore how firms respond to downstream product shocks. We find that affected firms increase research and development and make additional safety-related upstream investments. These investments vary with firm capabilities and across shock severity. Competitors appear to vicariously learn and also engage in similar upstream investments in affected markets. We present evidence that these upstream investments have important performance implications. First, these investments are positively related to transition probabilities and approval rates for products that received them. Second, these upstream investments are related to a decrease in the intensity and rate of future downstream product shocks. Surprisingly, however, these upstream investments appear to have limited impact on mitigating the negative demand response caused by these shocks.  


Ansprechpartnerin: Marina Chugunova


Eintragung in den Einladungsverteiler und mehr Informationen auf der Seminarseite.

Seminar  |  13.03.2024 | 16:30  –  17:45

Innovation & Entrepreneurship Seminar: Overcoming the Division of Labor in Scientific Research for Complementary Innovation – Evidence from Quantum Computing

Florenta Teodoridis (USC Marshall) 


Online-Veranstaltung, auf Einladung, siehe Seminarseite

Large corporate labs play an important role in innovation. Recently, there has been a trend toward universities producing scientific research and then corporate labs developing this research into practical applications. This division of scientific research labor can have negative consequences for the development of general purpose technologies and other enabling technologies. These technologies rely on a positive feedback loop of innovation, from seeding to complementary trajectories and back, in order to generate substantial productivity gains for companies and for the economy overall. A push against the increasing division of scientific research labor may catalyze the feedback loop. We explore this possibility in the context of the development of quantum computers. After a change in companies’ incentives to engage in scientific research, following a surprise announcement about the near-term commercial potential of quantum computing, we document a rise in company academic publications and patents in quantum computing hardware. Soon after, we document a rise in academic publications and patents in the complementary software trajectory. We also find suggestive evidence of a feedback loop between the hardware and the software trajectories. We interpret these results to suggest complementarities between company and university scientific research in the context of a newly emerging enabling technology.


Ansprechpartner: Daehyun Kim


Eintragung in den Einladungsverteiler und mehr Informationen auf der Seminarseite.

Seminar  |  27.02.2024 | 14:00  –  15:15

Science and Innovation During the War: Navigating Ukraine’s Recovery

Oleksandra Antoniuk (NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv Academic University, American University Kyiv)


Online-Veranstaltung (mit Registrierung)

This seminar delves into the scientific resilience and collaborative partnerships in the context of Ukraine’s post-war recovery. Dr. Oleksandra Antoniouk, Chairwoman of the Scientific Committee of the National Council of Ukraine for Science and Technology Development, will explore the effect of armed conflict on scientific endeavors and the innovative strategies employed during times of adversity. The discussion will extend to recovery initiatives, focusing on the pivotal role of European partnerships in rebuilding scientific infrastructure and fostering economic rejuvenation.


The talk will address the impact of the war on scientific research and the subsequent challenges the scientific community faces. Insights into the innovative solutions that emerged during the conflict and their contribution to addressing immediate challenges will be presented. Furthermore, during the seminar, the strategies and collaborative efforts employed to restore and strengthen Ukraine’s research capabilities post-war will be discussed, with a specific emphasis on the support and involvement of European partners.


Key topics include the transfer of technology, the adaptation of existing innovations, and the economic revitalization brought about by scientific and technological advancements. Dr. Antoniouk will analyze the role of policies and governance structures in facilitating recovery, highlighting legislative measures to foster collaboration with European counterparts. The discussion will extend to the human capital aspect, exploring strategies for attracting and retaining skilled researchers, as well as educational initiatives to nurture the next generation of scientific leaders. By focusing on the Ukrainian experience and its European partnership, the seminar will provide valuable insights into the multifaceted strategies required for post-war economic rejuvenation through science and innovation.


Register here to obtain the access credentials.

Contact person: Anatasiia Lutsenko

Vortrag  |  26.02.2024, 16:00

Die Möglichkeit(en) der Anerkennung ausländischer Patente aus Sicht des Internationalen Privatrechts

Michael Cremer, MJur (Oxon), MPI für ausländisches und internationales Privatrecht (Hamburg)


Raum 101, Anmeldung erbeten

Michael Cremer, MJur (Oxon)
Michael Cremer, MJur (Oxon), Max-Planck-Institut für ausländisches und internationales Privatrecht

Moderation: Hanns Ullrich


Der Vortrag argumentiert, dass die (strenge) Territorialität des Patentrechts heute nicht mehr zwingend ist. Sie ist in erster Linie ein historisches Überbleibsel des Erfindungsschutzes vor dem 20. und 21. Jahrhundert. Mit dem Übergang zur globalen Neuheit hat sich die Funktion des Erfindungsschutzes in einem schleichenden Prozess fundamental verändert. Deshalb ist es heute möglich, die Territorialität des Patentrechts zu lockern und ausländische Patente anzuerkennen, ihnen also Wirkung innerhalb der eigenen Rechtsordnung zuzusprechen. Das bietet dem Patentrecht eine rechtspolitisch sinnvolle Entwicklungsmöglichkeit.


Der Vortrag widmet sich dem in drei Teilen: Erstes erläutert er, was Territorialität im Patentrecht bedeutetet. Zweitens werden die Gründe für die territoriale Konzeption analysiert, zunächst historisch und dann aus heutiger Perspektive, rechtsdogmatisch und rechtspolitisch. Drittens werden zwei methodische Möglichkeiten zur Anerkennung ausländischer Patente vorgestellt.


Anmeldung
Anmeldung für die Veranstaltung (Registrierungszeitraum ist abgelaufen)
Abmeldung von der Veranstaltung

Verschiedenes  |  15.02.2024 | 18:00  –  19:15

Digitality Fireside Chat #5: KI in Deutschland – Neue Chancen, alte Fehler?

Kirsten Rulf (Boston Consulting Group)
Moderation: Dietmar Harhoff


Online-Veranstaltung, mit Registrierung

Mit Kirsten Rulf, Expertin für Künstliche Intelligenz, Partnerin und Associate Director bei BCG und zuvor Leiterin des Referats für Grundsatzfragen der Digitalpolitik im Bundeskanzleramt.


Diskutieren Sie mit Kirsten Rulf und Dietmar Harhoff über den Einsatz von KI in Deutschland. Rulf und Harhoff sprechen über Erfolgschancen und Hindernisse auf dem Weg hin zum produktiven Einsatz von KI. Deutschland hat sich bei der Digitalisierung im letzten Jahrzehnt nicht leicht getan. Wiederholen wir die Fehler, die dabei gemacht wurden? Oder gelingt es in dieser neuen Welle der Digitalisierung, Produktivitätspotenziale für Unternehmen, Wissenschaft und Verwaltung zügig zu erschließen?


Die Veranstaltung wird online via Zoom durchgeführt und findet in deutscher Sprache statt.

Registrieren Sie sich hier für den Zoom-Link.


Der Max Planck Digitality Fireside Chat ist ein informelles Veranstaltungsformat für intensive Gespräche und Diskussionen zu Digitalität und digitaler Transformation. Ziel ist es, Modelle für den Umgang mit der digitalen Transformation und Digitalität an sich tiefgehend erörtern zu können. Das Konzept erlaubt einen Austausch zwischen Forschenden und digitalen Pionieren aus der Praxis, die mit neuen Konzepten, Vorschlägen und Ideen hervorgetreten sind und Digitalisierung aktiv gestalten. 

Seminar  |  14.02.2024 | 15:00  –  16:15

Innovation & Entrepreneurship Seminar: Local Business Networks and New Firm Formation

Hanna Hottenrott (ZEW)


hybrid (Raum 313/Zoom)

New business formation is a key driver of regional transformation and development. While we know that a region’s attractiveness for new businesses depends on its resources, infrastructure, and human capital, we know little about the role of local business networks in promoting or impeding the birth of new firms. We construct local business networks connecting more than 350 million nodes consisting of managers, owners and firms using administrative data on all German businesses from 2002 to 2020. Differentiating between serial and de-novo entrepreneurs, we show a positive but decreasing relation between a region’s connectedness and firm entry of serial entrepreneurs. Networks are, moreover, positively linked to firm survival. Relating our findings to a measure of ownership concentration, we show that networks provide additional explanations for regional variation in new business formations. These patterns are robust to synthetic instrumental variable estimations.


Ansprechpartnerin: Marina Chugunova


Eintragung in den Einladungsverteiler und mehr Informationen auf der Seminarseite.

Verschiedenes  |  08.02.2024 | 18:00  –  20:00

Panel Discussion on the Current Proposal for a SEP Regulation

Raum E10 (auf Einladung)

Organized by the Munich IPDR Forum, which is an organization founded by scholars from the Max Planck Institute as well as IP practitioners and whose goal it is to bring together academia and practice on all issues regarding intellectual property rights and dispute resolution.


Join us as we delve into the European Commission’s current proposal for an SEP regulation and explore the incorporated ADR components. Help us compare this proposal to other examples of IP ADR, and contextualize it within the realm of standardization. 


We are delighted to present the opportunity to discuss the proposed SEP-Regulation with:

  • Dr. Beatriz Conde Gallego, Senior Research Fellow and member of the drafting group of the MPI for Innovation and Competition’s Position Paper on the Proposed SEP-Regulation
  • A member of the EU Commission (DG Grow) – participation to be confirmed
  • Dr. Matthias Schneider, Chairman of ETSI TC Human Factors and former member of the European Commission’s SEPs Expert Group (Group of Experts on Licensing and Valuation of Standard Essential Patents)
  • Dr. Axel Walz, judge at the 6th Senate of the Higher Regional Court Munich and co-author of a proposal for ADR in SEP disputes
  • Dr. Matthias Zigann, presiding judge of the 38th Senate of the Higher Regional Court Munich and of the Local Division Munich of  the Unified Patent Court
Seminar  |  07.02.2024 | 16:30  –  17:45

Innovation & Entrepreneurship Seminar: Cross-border Visits and Scientific Collaboration

Hyo Kang (USC Marhall)


Online-Veranstaltung, auf Einladung, siehe Seminarseite

We investigate the impact of short-term visits on scientific advancements by analyzing the staggered implementation of the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP) across 41 countries from 1988-2023. Our focus is on global collaborations involving US and non-US researchers benefiting from the VWP. Our results reveal a substantial influence on academic publications and conference proceedings, with no evidence of a substitution (crowd-out) effect. The number of publications by single authors or those exclusively affiliated with VWP countries did not experience a significant change. Further, we find a more pronounced effect in fields such as nursing, veterinary science, health professions, economics, and management, compared to relatively smaller effects observed in chemistry, physics, biochemistry, and mathematics. Notably, the impact on conference proceedings materializes more rapidly and with greater magnitude than on journal publications. Fields previously characterized by solo-author dominance exhibit a heightened effect. These findings underscore the crucial role of short-term face-to-face interactions between researchers from different countries and provide implications for academic seminars and conferences, visa and immigration policies, research and development (R\&D) strategies, and the future of work.


Ansprechpartner: Daehyun Kim


Eintragung in den Einladungsverteiler und mehr Informationen auf der Seminarseite.

Seminar  |  01.02.2024 | 15:00  –  17:00

TIME Kolloquium

Ann-Christin Kreyer (MPI), Adrian Goettfried (TUM)


ISTO

Megaprojects, Digital Platforms, and Productivity: Evidence from the Human Brain Project
Presenter: Ann-Christin Kreyer (MPI) 
Discussant: Elisa Gerten (ISTO)

How to build institutions to facilitate large-scale, long-term life science projects? This paper studies the impact of the Human Brain Project (HBP), a 10-year (2013-2023) flagship project funded by the European Union, which offers a valuable setting for institutions that provide long-term infrastructure and grant support to neuroscience, computing, and brain-related medicine. We construct new data that track the individuals involved in the HBP, the timing of active engagement, and research output (e.g., publications). We exploit plausibly exogenous variation based on the phase-relevant resource allocation and individual engagement. We use current methods in the difference-in-difference (DiD) with two-way fixed effects, combined with natural language processing tools (esp. topic classification) to capture the evolution in research topics: fundamental neuroscience, neurotech, AI-robotics, and patient care. We find that the HBP has gained attraction over time, with more individuals actively participating from more geographically diverse bases, particularly junior faculties and graduate students. We find that participation in the HBP leads to increased individual productivity in publications per year, an expanded coauthor network, more citations, and a higher likelihood of publishing in a top neuroscience journal. All topic areas share the increased research productivity and impact, especially in the neurotech topic areas that combine neuroscience and CS/AI. These results are particularly driven by junior scholars (junior faculties and graduate students). The overall patterns are qualitatively similar for the subsample containing female scholars, despite smaller magnitudes and less precision. Scholars based in Germany, Italy, and Belgium demonstrated more pronounced increases in publications per author year for neuroscience and AI researchers. This paper has broad policy implications with new evidence that upstream digital collaborative institution design can help facilitate high-impact interdisciplinary neuroscience research, which is a critical input in discovering new and better treatments for brain diseases.


Suing Upstream or Downstream? A Value Chain Perspective on Defendant Selection in Patent Infringement Suits
Presenter: Adrian Goettfried (TUM)
Discussant: Elisabeth Hofmeister (MPI)

Patent infringement suits may target various parties in the value chain, from the original implementer who translated the patented invention into a technical artifact downward to a commercial user of the final product. We analyze the plaintiff’s selection of “litigation level”, i.e., the level in the value chain on which the defendant is active. We distinguish between “direct litigation”, where the defendant is the original implementer of the patent; and “indirect litigation”, where the defendant is downstream from the original implementer. Drawing on anchoring and transaction cost theory, we hypothesize which factors render bifurcated patent infringement suits more likely. We present empirical findings from a study of 247 patent infringement suits filed at US district courts between 2010 and 2016. 38% of the analyzed patent infringement suits are indirect, with a particularly high prevalence in retail trade (78%) and services (58%; e.g., software or computer services). Indirect suits are relatively rare in manufacturing industries (25%), with electronics being the only exception (51%). In multivariate analysis, we find indirect patent infringement suits to be associated with complex technologies, open standards covered by standard-essential patents, and product patents, supporting three of our hypotheses. We contribute theoretically to research on value capture by suggesting antecedents of direct and indirect patent infringement suits. We discuss policy implications arising from the relative efficiency of the two modes and identify the need for managers to take an end-to-end perspective on IP risks in the value chain.

Seminar  |  31.01.2024 | 15:00  –  16:15

Innovation & Entrepreneurship Seminar: India’s Missing Billion

Patrick Gaulé (Bristol University)


hybrid (Raum 313/Zoom)

This paper quantifies the role of family background in who becomes an inventor in India — using the information content in surnames. Indian surnames typically contain information about one’s caste, religion, or geographic origin. Based on records of all adult Indians alive (~850 million individuals), a national survey of 130 million families, and historical registers from the British India civil service and university graduates in the 1850s, we develop a novel dataset to track inequality between family groups over time and space in India. We find that based on family background alone, the bottom two-thirds of India’s population (~1 billion individuals) have a very low chance of becoming an entrepreneur, inventor, scientist, or even participating in national entrance exams for top universities. This pattern is unique to India with no other major country having nearly as much name-based advantage in outcomes. Integrating marginalized communities will not only benefit the excluded communities within India but will also enable India to enhance its aggregate contribution to the global economy and to the knowledge frontier.
(Joint work with Ruchir Agarwal)


Ansprechpartner: Albert Roger


Eintragung in den Einladungsverteiler und mehr Informationen auf der Seminarseite.