In this hybrid research seminar on Thursday 7 November 2024 at 12:00 - 13:00 CET, Nicolò Barbieri (University of Ferrara, Italy) will present the findings from his co-authored paper 'Search strategies and attention in the evolution of novel inventions'.
Abstract from the paper:
This study examines the interplay between search strategies and attention allocation in the patenting process, focusing on novel inventions. Grounded in theories of bounded rationality and selective attention, it explores how the pursuit of novelty in invention development influences search strategies throughout the patenting process. The research introduces an empirical framework that exploits examiner search logs and NLP-based indicators to capture novelty. Specifically, it tracks patent examiners’ search behaviours and identifies novel word combinations that signal novel contributions. Our findings reveal that introducing new word combinations reduces search efforts, suggesting that patent novelty enhances search efficiency. This reduction in search length and increase in precision are linked to improved knowledge flow and lower processing costs. The paper highlights the added benefits of novel inventions that move through the patenting process at a faster pace.
The Zoom link to join the seminar online can be found here. This event is open to the public; all who are interested in this topic are very welcome to join the seminar, and there is also the opportunity to ask our speaker questions at the end of his presentation.
For any queries related to our UNU-MERIT Seminar Series, please contact Sneha Marydas and Cecilia Seri by sending an email to seminars@merit.unu.edu.
