The positive effect of public research on industrial innovations is beyond controversy: public research institutions produce knowledge that is subsequently transferred into product and process innovations by private businesses. Besides this rather passive role in commercializing inventions, public research institutions may also proactively exploit new knowledge through public sector entrepreneurship activities. Especially entrepreneurial universities are perceived as a conduit of knowledge spillovers; they serve as central actors of innovation networks and stimulate network activities. Whereas the linkages between network embeddedness and innovation activities have been largely explored, the determinants of patent quality in terms of radicalness, originality, and generality remain rather unclear. Considering Germany’s diverse public research infrastructure (universities, polytechnics, and non-university research institutes), our findings reveal that the type of institution and the corresponding scientific orientation (basic vs applied research) matter for the quality of inventions. The centrality of respective institutions within innovation networks reinforces the radicalness of inventions. However, we do not find support for the general assumption that an entrepreneurial orientation of public sector entities augments the quality of inventions. We conclude the paper with policy recommendations and with future avenues of research.

Plain English Summary This study explores the relation between network embeddedness, scientific orientation, entrepreneurial orientation, and the quality of inventions of public research. Our results imply that a basic research focus induces inventions that are more radical, and a more central network position reinforces the production of more radical, original, and general patents. In contrast, an entrepreneurial orientation does not seem to stimulate a higher quality of inventions. Our results give impetus to nuanced public sector entrepreneurship policies that take the type of institution and the optimal level of regional embeddedness into account. A sole focus on the entrepreneurial transformation of public research institutes may not be sufficient to leverage the full potential of knowledge created therein. Instead, more support and guidance for creating links with other network entities is needed along with incentives to commercialize new knowledge.

公共研究对工业创新的积极影响是无可争议的：公共研究机构产生的知识随后被私有企业转化为产品和过程创新。除了在使发明商业化方面发挥相当被动的作用外，公共研究机构还可以通过公共部门的企业家活动积极地利用新知识。特别是创业型大学被认为是知识溢出的渠道。他们充当创新网络的主要角色，并刺激网络活动。尽管已经在很大程度上探讨了网络嵌入性与创新活动之间的联系，但是从根本性，独创性和普遍性方面来看，专利质量的决定因素仍然很不清楚。考虑到德国多样化的公共研究基础设施（大学，理工学院和非大学研究机构），我们的发现表明，机构的类型和相应的科学方向（基础研究与应用研究）对发明的质量至关重要。各个机构在创新网络中的中心地位加强了发明的根本性。但是，我们没有找到支持公共部门实体的创业方向可以提高发明质量的一般假设的支持。我们以政策建议和未来的研究途径来结束本文。我们的发现表明，机构的类型和相应的科学方向（基础研究与应用研究）对发明的质量至关重要。各个机构在创新网络中的中心地位加强了发明的根本性。但是，我们没有找到支持公共部门实体的创业方向可以提高发明质量的一般假设的支持。我们以政策建议和未来的研究途径来结束本文。我们的发现表明，机构的类型和相应的科学方向（基础研究与应用研究）对发明的质量至关重要。各个机构在创新网络中的中心地位加强了发明的根本性。但是，我们没有找到支持公共部门实体的创业方向可以提高发明质量的一般假设的支持。我们以政策建议和未来的研究途径来结束本文。

普通英语摘要这项研究探索了网络嵌入度，科学导向，创业导向与公共研究发明质量之间的关系。我们的结果表明，以基础研究为重点的发明可以带来更为激进的发明，而更重要的网络地位可以增强对更激进，原始和一般专利的生产。相反，创业导向似乎并不能激发更高质量的发明。我们的研究结果推动了细致入微的公共部门企业家政策，这些政策考虑了机构类型和区域嵌入的最佳水平。仅关注公共研究机构的企业转型可能不足以充分利用其中所创造的知识的全部潜力。反而，