This paper reviews the empirical literature on rates of return on R&D and interprets the economic significance of these estimates using a semi-endogenous growth model with a calibrated knowledge production sector. We analyse how R&D subsidies, a reduction of entry barriers for start-ups and...

This paper re-visits the empirical failure to establish a clear link between R&D efforts and patent counts at the industry level. It is claimed that the "propensity-to-patent" concept should be split into an "appropriability propensity" and a "strategic propensity". The empirical contribution is...

Venture capital is considered to be the most appropriate form of financing for innovative firms in high-tech sectors. We provide an assessment of venture capital looking at the involvement of venture capital with some of Europe's most innovative and successful companies: those listed on Europe's...

To resume the main findings, industry data shows that, contrary to conventional belief, the European industry is not 'small' as compared to the US industry. Although the venture capital industry is clearly underdeveloped in continental Europe, it possesses the attributes of a mature industry in...