The reorganization of the American innovation ecosystem and the challenge of translating science

Arora, Ashish, Belenzon, Sharon, Patacconi, Andrea and Suh, Jungkyu (2025) The reorganization of the American innovation ecosystem and the challenge of translating science. Industrial and Corporate Change, 34 (6). pp. 1206-1228. ISSN 0960-6491

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Abstract

In this paper, we focus on lack of translational research as a potential explanation for the recent slowdown in productivity growth, as opposed to a slowdown in science or the decline in the novelty of science. We provide evidence that the translation of science (as measured through citations by patents) has dropped for novel science. This drop is correlated with the withdrawal of large firms from science (especially the physical sciences), as measured through their publications. Fields where venture capital-backed startups have entered have experienced an increase in the translation of science, but their entry has largely occurred in the life sciences and Information and Communication Technology. Sectors such as chemicals and materials science have instead been neglected, both by large firms and startups. Our results point to the role of large firms and their labs in facilitating the translation and commercialization of science. A growing division of innovative labor may have delivered gains from specialization in the production and use of science in some sectors, but appears to have left a void in others.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Norwich Business School
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Strategy and Entrepreneurship
Related URLs:	http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?...
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	12 Feb 2026 12:30
Last Modified:	19 Feb 2026 14:30
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/101928
DOI:	10.1093/icc/dtaf050

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