HOW TO ENHANCE PATENT COMMERCIALISATION? AN ANALYSIS OF PATENT AGGREGATORS IN EUROPE

In this study, we investigate the phenomenon of patent aggregators, entities that license or acquire patents from third parties with the goal of commercialising them through sale, licensing, enforcement, or the creation of new patent-based companies. We classify patent aggregators into four distinct types according to the following two main dimensions: the level of value added to a technology and the aggressiveness of their commercialisation strategy. We then construct a comprehensive map of patent aggregators established in Europe and analyse four case studies in greater depth. We discuss and compare characteristics of patent aggregators, their patent aggregation and commercialisation strategies, their main barriers and key success factors. Our findings lead to several policy and managerial recommendations.