In this paper we construct an intuitive measure of technological distance. We compare it to previously used measures and show that it satisfies a desirable independence axiom that other commonly used measures fail to satisfy.

I show that very complex inventions stay outside the patent system more often than medium-complexity products. I test this hypothesis using a subset of international patents data. The regressions confirm that patents and technological complexity have an inverted-U shape relation.

This study examined how intangible assets of Japanese biotechnology startups affected their intention to go public at one point and their actual initial public offering. Simple patent counts did not affect startups’ intention to go public in 2005. Among several indicators of patent quality,...