University patenting and knowledge spillover in Japan: panel-data analysis with citation data

University-based patents, by their nature, tend to embody scientific knowledge, which can contribute to technological innovation. University patents, therefore, can be an important catalyst between science and technology. This article examines the contribution of university patents to technological innovation. Using patent citation data, we investigate how the knowledge embodied in university patents influences technological innovation. We conclude that university-based patents convert scientific knowledge into generic knowledge and contribute to technological innovation.