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The influence of corporate acquisitions on the behaviour of key inventors
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Patent ProsecutionPatenting PerformanceCorporate AcquisitionsLawPatent DraftingCorporate InnovationPatent AnalysisManagementNew Product DevelopmentIntellectual PropertyPatentabilityTechnology TransferMergers And AcquisitionsOwnership StructurePatent PolicyKey InventorsCorporate GovernanceStrategic ManagementTechnology LicensingInnovationBusiness Method PatentBusinessBusiness StrategyPatenting Output
Key inventors contribute a large share of their company’s high‑quality patents. The study examines how key inventors behave after their company is acquired and identifies factors influencing that behaviour. Key inventors were identified by their patenting output. Across 43 acquisitions, key inventors largely leave the company or markedly reduce patenting after acquisition, with implications for acquisition management and future research.
The behaviour of key inventors after the acquisition of their company is examined. Key inventors are identified on the basis of their patenting output. They account for a large number of their company’s high‐quality patents. The analysis of 43 acquisitions shows that key inventors leave to a substantial extent their company or they significantly reduce their patenting performance after the acquisition. Factors influencing the behaviour of key inventors after acquisitions are identified. Implications for the effective management of acquisitions as well as suggestions for further research are outlined.