Patents and innovations: The experience of Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela

To measure the performance of a country in terms of innovation is necessary to use indicators to assess and monitor the management of technology. Patents are the result of innovative efforts. This study seeks to compare patents, in terms of quantity, scope, quality and technological diversity as indicators of outcomes of innovation efforts. This research study patents issued to Venezuela, Mexico and Brazil during the period 1990-2006. The source of information is the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The results indicate that: (i) The number of patents assigned to Brazil is greater than those assigned to Venezuela and Mexico, (ii) Brazil is more technological diverse than Mexico and Venezuela, (iii) private companies patented the most both in Brazil and Mexico, (iv) the scope of Venezuelan Patents is higher than Brazilian and Mexican Patents, and (v) Mexico is the country with more foreign co-inventors.