An evaluation of how Brazilian scientific research contributes to the patenting of sugarcane ethanol

“19TH ICABR CONFERENCE - IMPACTS OF THE BIOECONOMY ON AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN

HEALTH”Ravello (Amalfi Coast – Italy): June 16 - 19, 2015

Institute of Economics (IE), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil

CAROLINA S. BUENO, JOSÉ M. F. J. SILVEIRA, ANTONIO MARCIO BUAINAIN, LUIZ G. A. SOUZA & FÁBIO K. MASAGO

ObjectivesUnderlying hypotheses

• Assess contribution of Brazilian researchers to generation of scientific knowledge in 2nd generation bioethanol and to innovation– Brazil has accumulated 40 years of experience and

knowledge on ethanol production and should have some advantages to innovate in 2nd generation biofuels from sugar cane straw and bagasse

– 2nd generation biofuels are knowledge intensive based innovation and there is a relation between knowledge generation and innovation

– Being a leader in ethanol production and having accumulated solid knowledge in the area, Brazil is expected to be also leading in innovation in 2nd generation bioenergy

Methodology

• Step 1: Mapping up papers published – Search in ISI Web of Science– Subareas included in the search procedure: delignification, molecular

makers, gene transcription, genotypes, enzymatic hydrolysis, photosynthesis, genotypes, nitrogen and control of pests and diseases

– Use of queries (key-words) to identify scientific papers related to meaningful knowledge on sugarcane bioethanol

– Queries used: : “hydrolysis* sugarcane and enzymes*”; “molecular marker* and sugarcane and ethanol” and “Biomass or bagasse and sugarcane”; “genotypes* and sugarcane and ethanol”; “sugarcane and conversion enzymes”; “gene expression and sugarcane and ethanol”; “ethanol and nitrogen and sugarcane”; photosynthesis* AND sugarcane”; pest control and sugarcane”.

Methodology

• Step 2: Identification of international collaboration network for generation of scientific knowledge through co-authorship with researchers from other countries (use of VantagePoint Software)

• Step 3: Identification of patents on 2nd generation bioethanol in the USPTO data base between 1976-2014

• Step 4: Identification of patent holders, by country and company/institution

• Step 5: Identification of scientific contribution to patents through the analysis of the literature cited in patents requests

• Step 6: Analysis of network of knowledge generation from quotes in patents letters

Main results

Global Scenario of Scientific Publication on Biomass

2977 articles

Brazil 726

USA 417India 253

World Scientific Production2009-2013 Brazil: General: 2,74%, 13th placeAgricultural Science: 10,96%, 1st place

Scientific collaboration network on sugarcane ethanol

Brazil: green

USA: blue

India: red

Sub-area Country with the most publication Institution with the most publications Most frequently

cited

Enzymatic Hydrolysis Brazil University of São Paulo 143

Molecular Markers Brazil University of São Paulo 204

Delignification Brazil University of São Paulo 510

Genotypes USA United States Department of Agriculture 204

Enzymatic Conversion Brazil University of São Paulo 510

Genetic expression China Chinese Academy of Sciences 270

Nitrogen Brazil University of São Paulo 274

Photosynthesis USA United States department of agriculture 257

Pest Control Brazil University of São Paulo 125

Publication in Key Scientific Subareas for Sugarcane Ethanol: country and institution

2nd Generation Ethanol: Articles and Patent, 1976 - 2014p

antents

and

articules

USA: 127 India: 10Brazil: 3China:1South Korea:1Japan: 1

Patents related to sugarcane ethanol in USPO – 1976 - 2014

Patent holders in USPTO database in the sub-areas of sugarcane ethanol

Patents that are most frequently cited in articles: A comparison between the citation of articles and the citation of patents

Sub-Area No. of citations of articles No. of patents citedNo. of citations of

the patents by other patents

Enzymatic Hydrolysis (26) 450 495 165

Molecular Markers (8) 385 184 122

Delignification (43) 737 812 213

Genotypes (17) 516 418 180

Enzymatic Conversion (5) 267 144 92

Gene Expression (11) 602 511 258

Nitrogen (14) 242 331 49

Photosynthesis (6) 504 373 107

Pest Control (14) 552 325 105

DISCUSSION• As described above, a network analysis of the international collaboration

involved in the scientific articles, and an analysis of the patent citations, both in the proposed domain of the sugarcane bioethanol investigation were carried out. Our basic idea was that scientific knowledge is the path to innovation, which is shown in this study in steps (3 and 5).

• Brazil has constructed an ethanol model for which it is known worldwide, and for this reason, it will be the object of the investigation of the trajectory between scientific publications and patents. Despite being the principle agent in the knowledge network, it is clear, as pointed out in steps 1 and 2, that Brazil produces a very low number of patents.

• Our objective however was more audacious. The initial hypothesis gave that the international collaboration networks provide a bridge for the generation of patents, as observed in terms of two points. Firstly, regarding the adoption of the accumulated scientific knowledge to generate patents and secondly, that the knowledge contained in the patents would be heavily linked to Brazilian scientific knowledge, since this knowledge does not support the protection of Brazilian innovations (as shown in stage 3).

DISCUSSION

• In spite of its major role as ethanol producer and also in the sugarcane ethanol knowledge network, it is clear that Brazil produces a very low number of patents. WHY IS THAT? WHAT IS WRONG (OR RIGHT) WITH BRAZILIAN KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTION MODEL?

• Does international collaboration provide a bridge for the generation of patents, or for transferring knowledge to support patent claims from third parties?

• What is missing? Incentives to researchers? Connections with private companies? Better focus on research priorities?

DISCUSSION• A number of questions were considered throughout this

study. Is Brazilian knowledge relevant to the generation of patents? Whether it is or not, the subareas analysed here are considered radical innovation, and Brazilian studies are published in the best journals indexed on the Web of Science, which is something that must be taken into consideration.

• If Brazil does in fact produce innovation, why is it not protected by patents? If the answer to this question is yes, there will be many risks in relation to the already consolidated Brazilian ethanol market. With ethanol becoming a commodity, where is the autonomy for what the country has constructed over decades?

• This analysis is currently underway and the results will be released in due course.