Gender Diversity, R&D Teams and Patents: An Application to Spanish Firms

Abstract

Previous results show that gender diversity increases the probability that firms invest in R&D and engage in innovation. This paper explores the relationship between gender diversity of R&D departments and their capacity to patent. Based on the Spanish Community Innovation Survey between 2004 and 2014, we apply a two-step procedure in order to control for endogeneity. Although gender diversity affects OEPM patents negatively, its impact is non-significant for patents with international coverage (EPO, USPTO, or PCT). A relevant result is the fact that the generation of patents is positively affected by the diversity of categories in the R&D labs. Our results highlight that, gender diversity of R&D teams does not play a relevant impact on the capacity of the firm to register patents. However, the diversity according to the professional role in R&D teams exerts a positive influence. In sum, the key question is not the gender diversity per se but the gender diversity jointly with the professional status.

Innovation and SME finance: Evidence from developing countries

“…Foreign_Own % -This factor has been evidenced to significant positive effect on frim level innovation, because of foreign ownership transfer superior technologies, which is required to product and process innovation of their subsidies (Guadalupe, Kuzmina, & Thomas, 2012). Female -Several studies show that gender diversity has an impact to firm level innovation (Díaz-García, González-Moreno, & Jose Sáez-Martínez, 2013;Sastre, 2016;Teruel & Segarra-Blasco, 2017;Tonoyan & Strohmeyer, 2006). Two hypotheses are plausible: One suggests that women are risk-averse than men, which would be detrimental to innovation, given that innovation is inherently a risky (2014) report positive relationships between the industry-specific experience of the topmanager and the decision to innovate.…”

Unmasking intellectual capital from gender and nationality diversity on university spin-offs’ boards: a study on non-linear effects upon firm innovation

“…As there are differences in employees' skills and knowledge based on gender, gender diversity on USOs' boards will have a significant impact on the UEE through the ability to generate innovation (Teruel and Segarra-Blasco, 2018). Hence, a positive linear association could emerge between gender diversity on the board and firm innovation in USOs.…”