Surveyed impact of intellectual property training in STEM education on innovation, research, and development

• Autores: O'Sullivan, S.; Friebe, Michael; Tonti, W. R.; Hartnett, Margaret; Castro, Manuel; Pozzo, María Isabel Rita; Nilsiam, Y.
• Año de publicación: 2020
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Materia: ACADEMIC PATENTING; INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COURSES; TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER; UNIVERSITY PATENTING
• Institución: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas

This paper analyzes the findings of an international survey questionnaire to which responses were received from over 500 members from different technical societies of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). The survey is primarily intended to uncover members' perceptions of patent filing and research-driven innovation. Our thesis statement is twofold. First, the introduction of basic intellectual property (IP) courses to university Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics curricula would teach students valuable basics of IP and associated issues, technology protection; and possibly stimulate novel/innovative R&D outcomes. Second, studying relevant active/lapsed/expired patent documents could provide stimulating input for ongoing academic research. After analyzing the survey results we conclude that IP coursework could be a catalyst for students and researchers to explore patent opportunities related to their specific interests. The resulting knowledge would further enable researchers to prepare more compelling funding applications. In our experience, IEEE conference publications are often closely aligned with inventions to solve pressing technical problems. Conference papers typically comprise of cutting-edge research/industry findings, with a short time between paper submission and presentation. Furthermore, conference organizers choose themes representing the forefront of technologies that often lead to inventions. These could fuel patent developments, but academic research environments often provide little if any incentives for academic researchers to prepare and file patent applications. Indeed, the attainment of high impact journal publications remains the primary metric by which research activity is judged and future academic tenure achieved.
Fil: O'Sullivan, S.. University of Münster; Alemania
Fil: Friebe, Michael. Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg; Alemania
Fil: Tonti, W. R.. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; Estados Unidos
Fil: Hartnett, Margaret. Hartnett Innovations; Reino Unido
Fil: Castro, Manuel. Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia; España
Fil: Pozzo, María Isabel Rita. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto Rosario de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Educación. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Instituto Rosario de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Educación; Argentina
Fil: Nilsiam, Y.. Michigan Technological University; Estados Unidos