This paper proposes a unified conceptual framework to analyse the multiple role and consequences of patents in the case of biotechnology research tools. We argue that the knowledge/information and independent/complementary nature of research tools define heterogeneous frameworks in which the patent system plays different roles.  read more »

The ‘knowledge economy’ is now widely debated and economic geographers have highlighted the ‘new regions’ ability to produce and disseminate tacit knowledge. However, there is concern that such work is responsible for the unfounded association of tacit knowledge with solely the local scale.  read more »