Technology flows and innovation output in Italy: industry-level evidence from R&D and patent data

This paper offers a broad characterisation of inter-industry R&D flows in Italy. It exploits a novel ‘R&D performer-beneficiary’ matrix built on survey-based information collected by Istat, the Italian National Institute of Statistics and relies on matched enterprise and patent data. The study identifies net R&D performers, including specialised R&D suppliers, maps the type and number of industries they serve and sheds some light on the industries that most benefit from the R&D carried out by other industries. It further depicts a number of inter-industry R&D linkages and technology clusters. Finally, relying on information about the technology class of patented inventions, it assesses the level of technological specialisation or diversification of the innovative output of R&D performers.