“Why are American universities so much better at patenting their work than their European counterparts? Over the past ten years, league tables that rank universities around the world have come into vogue. One of those tables, by the Milken Institute, focuses on the ability of universities to develop and commercialise patents. The Milken Institute Biotech Patent Rankings Composite Index, 2000-2004 shows that of the top 30 universities in the world, according to biotechnology patents granted, American institutions captured 23 places. Only two European universities – the University of London and the University of Oxford – made the list. What explains this disparity? It is not a question of American university researchers being superior to their European counterparts …” (more)
[Craig Evan Klafter, Times Higher Education, 23 July]