Patenting in family firms Online publication date: Wed, 30-Apr-2014
by Alessandra Tognazzo; Federica Destro; Paolo Gubitta
International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management (IJEIM), Vol. 17, No. 1/2/3, 2013
Abstract: This paper analyses the patenting activities of family businesses compared to non-family ones. First, the focus is on the number of granted patents. Family long-term orientation, care for wealth preservation and risk aversion, may affect innovation processes. Hence, the main question is whether family businesses patent more or less than non-family firms. Second, innovative family companies are examined. This paper conceptualises possible consequences of family involvement also on the selection of inventors and on the accurateness and significance of patent applications. Using a sample of 234 Italian businesses, the article examines how the family influences the patenting behaviours. Empirical results show that family firms patent less than non-family ones and that the inventors' group composition tends to be smaller and conditioned by the presence of family members. These findings support the claim of a pervasive involvement of the family in determining the innovation strategy of the firm.
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management (IJEIM):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:
Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.
If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com
Our Blog 
Follow us on Twitter 
Visit us on Facebook