Inventors' productivity in a publicly funded R&D agency--the case of CSIR in India

Intellectual property rights have become a significant component of R&D policy in India. The inventor's productivity is a major concern of the publicly funded R&D organizations like the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The paper examines the patenting activity of inventors from CSIR in India and the US during 1976-2000. It observes that there is no uniform trend in patent output of inventors. The patent productivity is highly concentrated in a relatively small number of talented individuals. The first inventors have a role as scientific mentors. It defines the 'pioneer first inventors' as those who contribute more as first inventor and less as co-inventor. The 'patronising first inventors' are those who contribute less as first inventor but more as co-inventor. Though the former produce more patents in total in comparison to the latter yet the per inventor output of 'patronising first inventors' is twice that of 'pioneer first inventors'. The paper suggests that, within CSIR's policy of rewarding innovation and creativity, the role of leading inventors should be distinguished as pioneering first inventors and patronising first inventors and their contributions rewarded accordingly.