Veranstaltungen

Ukraine has been engaged in the process of harmonising its statistical information for over a decade. However, this process is far from complete. In many cases, Ukrainian official statistics employs the same definitions as those used in OECD countries, but the methods of collecting data and calculations are not in line with international standards. This can be illustrated by the following examples of full-time equivalent (FTE) calculations for human R&D potential and expenditures on R&D. The Ukrainian State Statistical Service (SSS) does not provide data on the financing of STI in comparable formats, which makes it difficult to assess the dynamics of corresponding processes. This is further complicated by the restricted access to the initial information, which has two aspects. Firstly, the construction of samples is not always justified, as not all groups of innovative enterprises are represented in the surveys in an appropriate manner. Secondly, there is limited access to data from individual research organisations and innovative enterprises. Furthermore, official statistics contain some ‘obsolete’ indicators, while modern ones are not used due to certain formal reasons. This situation must be rectified, and the SSS will need to adopt more flexible procedures to accelerate the process of European integration in research and innovation statistics. The utilisation of official statistics for the evaluation of the performance of research organisations is an example of an attempt to implement international standards in this area. These issues and opportunities will be discussed in greater detail within this research presentation.

Ansprechpartnerin: Anastasiia Lutsenko

Firms have increasingly been competing through design. We show how computer vision techniques can be leveraged to measure the visual similarity of design rights across large data sets of product design images. Thus we extract and standardize 611,810 unique design images embedded in US design rights (1976–2020), adapt the structural similarity index measure to quantify design similarities between images, and rigorously validate the resulting design rights similarity measure. We then use that measure to produce novel empirical evidence that the similarity density of a design space exhibits an inverted U-shape with respect to the likelihood of that space’s design rights being litigated—a relationship proposed previously but never tested. Our design rights similarity measure should facilitate the exploration of new research questions in the fields of design rights, innovation, and strategy. We grant open access to our code and data resources to encourage research in these areas. 
(co-authored with Tian Cian and Cornelia Storz)

Ansprechpartner: David Heller

Eintragung in den Einladungsverteiler und mehr Informationen auf der Seminarseite.

We define the concept of moral cost of carbon (MCC): the internal carbon price that individuals implicitly apply to their consumption decisions. We argue that the MCC is a key metric for policy design. The gap between MCC and an actual carbon price tells us how much the carbon externality should be priced. It also reveals the political barriers to implementing a broad-based carbon pricing scheme. We propose an experimental approach to  measure the MCC among a target population. A key challenge is that information gaps and the choice environment could have large impacts and confound its elicitation. Our experimental design aims to address these problems. In particular, we show how malleable the MCC is with respect to extrinsic incentives.
(Co-authored by Sébastien Houde, Joachim Schleich, Corinne Faure)

Ansprechpartner: Albert Roger

Eintragung in den Einladungsverteiler und mehr Informationen auf der Seminarseite.

Matthias Tschöp (wissenschaftlicher Geschäftsführer, CEO und Sprecher der Geschäftsführung bei Helmholtz Munich) und Dietmar Harhoff sprechen über Innovation, Transfer und Start-ups sowie Durchbrüche in der Medikamentenentwicklung. Die Digitalisierung beeinflusst die Medizin in allen Bereichen, auch in der Forschung. Dort werden zudem Startups immer wichtiger, um Forschungsergebnisse in die Anwendung zu transferieren. Matthias Tschöp ist in diesen Bereichen ein wichtiger und erfolgreicher Akteur und wird über seine Erfahrungen berichten.

Der Max Planck Digitality Fireside Chat ist ein informelles Veranstaltungsformat für intensive Gespräche und Diskussionen zu Digitalität und digitaler Transformation. Ziel ist es, Modelle für den Umgang mit der digitalen Transformation und Digitalität an sich tiefgehend erörtern zu können. Das Konzept erlaubt einen Austausch zwischen Forschenden und digitalen Pionieren aus der Praxis, die mit neuen Konzepten, Vorschlägen und Ideen hervorgetreten sind und Digitalisierung aktiv gestalten. 

We explore how firms respond to downstream product shocks. We find that affected firms increase research and development and make additional safety-related upstream investments. These investments vary with firm capabilities and across shock severity. Competitors appear to vicariously learn and also engage in similar upstream investments in affected markets. We present evidence that these upstream investments have important performance implications. First, these investments are positively related to transition probabilities and approval rates for products that received them. Second, these upstream investments are related to a decrease in the intensity and rate of future downstream product shocks. Surprisingly, however, these upstream investments appear to have limited impact on mitigating the negative demand response caused by these shocks.  

Ansprechpartnerin: Marina Chugunova

Eintragung in den Einladungsverteiler und mehr Informationen auf der Seminarseite.

Large corporate labs play an important role in innovation. Recently, there has been a trend toward universities producing scientific research and then corporate labs developing this research into practical applications. This division of scientific research labor can have negative consequences for the development of general purpose technologies and other enabling technologies. These technologies rely on a positive feedback loop of innovation, from seeding to complementary trajectories and back, in order to generate substantial productivity gains for companies and for the economy overall. A push against the increasing division of scientific research labor may catalyze the feedback loop. We explore this possibility in the context of the development of quantum computers. After a change in companies’ incentives to engage in scientific research, following a surprise announcement about the near-term commercial potential of quantum computing, we document a rise in company academic publications and patents in quantum computing hardware. Soon after, we document a rise in academic publications and patents in the complementary software trajectory. We also find suggestive evidence of a feedback loop between the hardware and the software trajectories. We interpret these results to suggest complementarities between company and university scientific research in the context of a newly emerging enabling technology.

Ansprechpartner: Daehyun Kim

Eintragung in den Einladungsverteiler und mehr Informationen auf der Seminarseite.

This seminar delves into the scientific resilience and collaborative partnerships in the context of Ukraine’s post-war recovery. Dr. Oleksandra Antoniouk, Chairwoman of the Scientific Committee of the National Council of Ukraine for Science and Technology Development, will explore the effect of armed conflict on scientific endeavors and the innovative strategies employed during times of adversity. The discussion will extend to recovery initiatives, focusing on the pivotal role of European partnerships in rebuilding scientific infrastructure and fostering economic rejuvenation.

The talk will address the impact of the war on scientific research and the subsequent challenges the scientific community faces. Insights into the innovative solutions that emerged during the conflict and their contribution to addressing immediate challenges will be presented. Furthermore, during the seminar, the strategies and collaborative efforts employed to restore and strengthen Ukraine’s research capabilities post-war will be discussed, with a specific emphasis on the support and involvement of European partners.

Key topics include the transfer of technology, the adaptation of existing innovations, and the economic revitalization brought about by scientific and technological advancements. Dr. Antoniouk will analyze the role of policies and governance structures in facilitating recovery, highlighting legislative measures to foster collaboration with European counterparts. The discussion will extend to the human capital aspect, exploring strategies for attracting and retaining skilled researchers, as well as educational initiatives to nurture the next generation of scientific leaders. By focusing on the Ukrainian experience and its European partnership, the seminar will provide valuable insights into the multifaceted strategies required for post-war economic rejuvenation through science and innovation.

Contact person: Anatasiia Lutsenko

Moderation: Hanns Ullrich

Der Vortrag argumentiert, dass die (strenge) Territorialität des Patentrechts heute nicht mehr zwingend ist. Sie ist in erster Linie ein historisches Überbleibsel des Erfindungsschutzes vor dem 20. und 21. Jahrhundert. Mit dem Übergang zur globalen Neuheit hat sich die Funktion des Erfindungsschutzes in einem schleichenden Prozess fundamental verändert. Deshalb ist es heute möglich, die Territorialität des Patentrechts zu lockern und ausländische Patente anzuerkennen, ihnen also Wirkung innerhalb der eigenen Rechtsordnung zuzusprechen. Das bietet dem Patentrecht eine rechtspolitisch sinnvolle Entwicklungsmöglichkeit.

Der Vortrag widmet sich dem in drei Teilen: Erstes erläutert er, was Territorialität im Patentrecht bedeutetet. Zweitens werden die Gründe für die territoriale Konzeption analysiert, zunächst historisch und dann aus heutiger Perspektive, rechtsdogmatisch und rechtspolitisch. Drittens werden zwei methodische Möglichkeiten zur Anerkennung ausländischer Patente vorgestellt.

Mit Kirsten Rulf, Expertin für Künstliche Intelligenz, Partnerin und Associate Director bei BCG und zuvor Leiterin des Referats für Grundsatzfragen der Digitalpolitik im Bundeskanzleramt.

Diskutieren Sie mit Kirsten Rulf und Dietmar Harhoff über den Einsatz von KI in Deutschland. Rulf und Harhoff sprechen über Erfolgschancen und Hindernisse auf dem Weg hin zum produktiven Einsatz von KI. Deutschland hat sich bei der Digitalisierung im letzten Jahrzehnt nicht leicht getan. Wiederholen wir die Fehler, die dabei gemacht wurden? Oder gelingt es in dieser neuen Welle der Digitalisierung, Produktivitätspotenziale für Unternehmen, Wissenschaft und Verwaltung zügig zu erschließen?

Die Veranstaltung wird online via Zoom durchgeführt und findet in deutscher Sprache statt.

Der Max Planck Digitality Fireside Chat ist ein informelles Veranstaltungsformat für intensive Gespräche und Diskussionen zu Digitalität und digitaler Transformation. Ziel ist es, Modelle für den Umgang mit der digitalen Transformation und Digitalität an sich tiefgehend erörtern zu können. Das Konzept erlaubt einen Austausch zwischen Forschenden und digitalen Pionieren aus der Praxis, die mit neuen Konzepten, Vorschlägen und Ideen hervorgetreten sind und Digitalisierung aktiv gestalten.