This thesis aims to identify and to close some gaps in the literature dealing with business strategies towards the creation, absorption and dissemination of new technologies. In doing so it comprises four theoretical papers. The following abstracts and Figure 1 briefly link each paper to one ore...

Research and Development (R&D) and innovation are crucial features of the seed industry. To supportlarge R&D investments by the private sector, strong intellectual property rights, such as patents, arenecessary. The exclusivity granted by patents naturally creates market power positions and...

We show the effects of Bertrand and Cournot competition on R&D investmentand social welfare in a duopoly with R&D competition where success in R&D isprobabilistic. We show that R&D investments are higher under Bertrand (Cournot)competition when R&D productivities are sufficiently low (high), and...

This paper compares Bertrand and Cournot equilibria in a horizontallydifferentiated duopoly market with non-tournament R&D competition. We consider thatsuccess in R&D is uncertain. We show that whether firms invest more under Cournotcompetition or Bertrand competition is ambiguous and depends on...

This paper analyses market valuations of UK companies using a new data set of their R&Dand IP activities (1989-1999). In contrast to previous studies, the analysis is conducted at thesectoral level, where the sectors are based on the technological classification in Pavitt (1984).The first main...