The endogeneity of science : the relationship of university research to industry and innovation

Abstract

This dissertation examines how the rate and direction of scientific science is endogenous to the institutional, technological and economic environment. The first essay investigates how local industrial R&D impacts the rate and direction of academic research by measuring the geographically localized spillover effect from industry R&D headquarters to nearby universities, which I call "reverse knowledge spillovers". To address the endogeneity concerns due to selection of industry location, this study exploits the exogenous entry into plant biotechnology R&D by pre-existing agribusiness incumbents in non-biotechnology clusters. I find that after the industry incumbents' entry into plant biotechnology R&D, collocated universities with the institutional capacity for industry boundary-spanning experienced a significant productivity increase in industry-relevant fields of science. As a further investigation into the phenomenon of "reverse knowledge spillovers", the second essay examines the individual antecedents that incentivize university scientists to engage in industry-relevant research. I argue that young and less prominent scientists have a stronger incentive to exploit new opportunities provided by the local industry due to the lack of alternatives and less opportunity cost. Finally, the third essay provides a theoretical overview of the endogeneity of science. The purpose of this essay is to deepen our understanding of Science as an economic institution, and to draw out some of the crucial pathways by which the structure, conduct and performance of the scientific research enterprise is endogenous to the institutional environment, technology and economic objectives.