Creating Scientific Knowledge: The Role of Public and Private Innovation

This fascinating book explores the role of public and private external innovation in enhancing the creation of scientific knowledge. Albert Link explores how external knowledge innovation leads to the creation of scientific knowledge, which in turn results in the spillover of scientific knowledge into society.

Link evaluates empirical information from knowledge-intensive entrepreneurial firms as well as smaller firms that received research funding through small business innovation research programs. He compares and contrasts the two, analyzing key topics including commercialization, patenting, scientific publishing, university knowledge innovation and human and technical capital. Drawing on cluster theory, the book highlights the evolutionary nature of knowledge sources and concepts. It calls for future research to address the economics of knowledge, and to develop a more complete model of its generation as a circular process, achieved through the recombination of existing knowledge items.

Scholars and students of economics, innovation studies, technology policy and public policy will benefit from this book’s insights. Creating Scientific Knowledge is also an essential read for global policy makers interested in how the spillover of scientific knowledge can benefit society.