When Academics Meet Climate: The Differential Impact of Climate versus Non-Climate Technologies from Universities

Abstract

In the context of climate change mitigation as a paramount global challenge, this study focuses on technologies originating from university research. We investigate the influence of university-originated climate technologies (CTs) on subsequent inventions, specifically whether CTs exert greater knowledge spillovers than non-climate technologies (NCTs) and whether this effect is amplified by knowledge spanning. Knowledge spanning captures the extent to which an invention integrates knowledge across multiple domains, reflecting the diversification of the knowledge it embeds. Drawing on a large sample of 184,942 U.S. university-originated patents granted from 1981 to 2023 (post-Bayh-Dole Act), we utilize forward citations as an established patent indicator to measure knowledge spillovers. The findings reveal that university-originated CTs receive significantly more forward citations than NCT counterparts, consistent with evidence that climate patents generate greater knowledge spillovers. Crucially, among CTs, those exhibiting higher knowledge spanning have even greater influence on subsequent technological developments, suggesting that knowledge integration across domains is critical for maximizing academic climate technology impact. Additional analyses highlight heterogeneity across CT subclasses, with building, production, transportation, and waste management technologies showing the largest advantages. These results provide actionable insights for public R&D policies, emphasizing targeted funding for knowledge-spanning CTs to enhance spillovers and accelerate low-carbon transitions.