Title: The Patent Gold Rush? An Empirical Study of Patent Bubbles in Chinese Universities (1990–2019)

Speaker: Chen Shi, Associate Professor, School of Law, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics. Research areas: IP, science & tech law, fintech regulation.

Abstract: China’s universities have seen a rapid expansion in patenting. Is this catching up or a low-quality “patent bubble”? We document strategic behavior: a 10% rise in university patents is associated with 1.1% lower forward citations next year, 0.6% fewer licensing events, and 1% fewer mortgaged patents — evidence of a patent bubble. Non-elite universities show worse bubbles, though elite bubbles grew faster after 2010. University scientists appear to pursue quantity at the cost of patent quality.

Date & time: 7 December 2024, 14:00–15:00

Venue: Room B408, Zhixin Building, Central Campus, Shandong University