Learning to be Capable: Patenting and Licensing at the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation 1925-2002

Publication Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

1-2005

Abstract

This study explores the effects of experiential learning on the cost of capability development. Drawing from historical data on patenting and licensing activities at the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, we find evidence of a curvilinear relationship between experiential learning within a capability and the costs of developing the same capability. Our results also suggest that learning in a primary capability has a beneficial spillover effect on the development of complementary capabilities. However, at high levels of accumulated experience, we found that the primary capability has the potential to impede the deployment of related capabilities. The results of this study add to the dynamic capabilities, university technology transfer and science policy literatures.

Discipline

Business | Higher Education | Strategic Management Policy | Technology and Innovation

Research Areas

Strategy and Organisation

Publication

Industrial and Corporate Change

Volume

14

Issue

1

First Page

119

Last Page

151

ISSN

0960-6491

Identifier

10.1093/icc/dth046

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1093/icc/dth046

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