Open science, open innovation? The role of open access in patenting activity

Abstract Scientific knowledge is a key driver of technological innovation, shaping industrial development and policy decisions worldwide. Understanding how patents incorporate scientific research is essential for assessing the role of academic discoveries in technological progress. Non-Patent References (NPRs) provide a useful indicator of this relationship by revealing the extent to which patents draw upon scientific literature. Using USPTO patent data on 497,098 patents and 3.2 million inventor-cited scientific references, matched to nearly one million distinct publications in the Marx–Fuegi (2020) database, we employ the Reliance on Science Index (RSI) and the Normalized Open Access Index (NOAI) to quantify both the dependence of patents on scientific research and the accessibility of the cited literature. We show that reliance on scientific research in patents varies significantly across regions and is strongly concentrated in science-based domains (especially biotechnology and pharmaceuticals). Oceania and Europe display stronger engagement with scientific knowledge, while the Americas exhibit lower reliance. Additionally, Open Access is overrepresented in NPRs, specifically inventor-cited scientific references, and more likely to be cited than average (38%), a trend which intensifies when Sci-Hub availability is considered. These results highlight the transformative impact of Open Science on global innovation dynamics. By facilitating broader access to research, Open Science strengthens the link between academia and industry, underscoring the need for policies that promote equitable and science-based innovation, particularly in developing regions.