Technology and Technology Transfer: Mansfieldian Inspirations and Subsequent Developments

Abstract

The foundational contribution of Edwin Mansfield to the economic study of technological change and innovation, especially of technology transfer, is examined.In the late 1960s, Mansfield was the first to perform serious empirical studies of industrial research.His work provides insights into the role of academic and basic research in increasing innovation and productivity, the diffusion of technological innovations, the private and social returns to innovations, and the role of patents and the patent system.These areas became critically important to managers and policy makers. Mansfield's influence on the author's research is also discussed.The author links Mansfield's work to recent developments in the economics and management of knowledge, industrial transfer, the nature of knowledge, the importance of intellectual capital and intellectual property, the process of capturing value from intellectual capital, valuation issues of accounting an market metrics, and the internationalization of research and development activity.Much recent work on patenting, technology strategy, and economics of knowledge has its origins in the earlier writings of Mansfield. It is concluded that Mansfield should be recognized as the pioneer for this research. (TNM)

Keywords: Mansfield, Edwin, Economics of innovation, Economics of knowledge, R&D metrics, Technological change, Industrial research, Academic research, Diffusion of innovations, Technology transfer, Intellectual property, Innovation process, R&D, Intellectual capital, Intangible assets