Does It Matter Where the Funds Go? A Sectoral Analysis of U.S. Government-Interest Patents
研究比较了美国政府资助专利与非政府资助专利的表现，发现政府专利虽侧重基础研究，但非政府专利在引用影响和技术影响上更优，表明公共资金效果取决于受资助机构的吸收能力和战略匹配。
This study examines how public funding influences research and development (R&D) outcomes by analyzing the performance of government-interest (GI) patents—those that explicitly acknowledge government support—relative to non-GI patents. Using a comprehensive patentometric assessment of U.S. patent data, the study challenges the conventional belief that government-backed patents inherently yield superior results. While GI patents tend to emphasize foundational and publicly aligned research, non-GI patents often outperform them in terms of citation influence and technological impact, particularly in market-driven contexts. To interpret these patterns, the study introduces a quadrant-based framework grounded in four complementary theories: the Triple Helix (TH) model, Pasteur's Quadrant (PQ), Organizational Learning (OL) theory, and Resource Dependence Theory (RDT). This framework supports a strategic understanding of how different recipients utilize government support, highlighting patterns of efficient resource use, latent potential, and underperformance. The findings suggest that public funding alone does not guarantee high-impact innovation; rather, success depends on how effectively recipient organizations align funding strategies with their internal capabilities and long-term goals. The study underscores the importance of differentiated funding approaches and improved organizational absorptive capacity. By incorporating metrics such as patent citations, concentration indices, and temporal performance, the research offers a multidimensional view of the effectiveness of public R&D investment. The results provide actionable guidance for both funders and recipients in shaping policies and strategies that maximize the societal and economic returns on public R&D investments.