Research Processes and System Output

The process of knowledge creation on the agent level links the input and the output part of the model as illustrated in Fig. 2. An agent starts with a certain probability p ^sp that it may receive knowledge through spillover. This is based on the assumption that a certain percentage of knowledge is non-excludable and a non-rival public good (Fischer and Frohlich 2001). If the agent finds an appropriate kene for matching its research target through spillover, the research result is taken for granted, which ends up with an achieved research result and thus completes the agent’s process of knowledge creation. Alternatively, i.e. with the probability of 1 — p^sp, the agent engages either in cooperative research (with probability a^co) or in

Fig. 2 Agents’ processes (overview)

internal research (with probability a^lnt = 1 — a^co). In case of a missing match from spillover the agent engages in research according to these fractions as well. Now, the attainment of the research result depends on the success rates sr^co and sr^lnt. If the research result is actually achieved through these research processes, the kene kj replaces the old one kj_l in the knowledge endowment K of the agent.

In the output part of the model, successfully achieved research results are incorporated into the agent’s knowledge endowment and as such represent knowledge gains as described above. Additionally, the agent undergoes a fitness test which determines the agent-specific patenting propensity using empirical evidence as described in more detail in Sect. 4.3. This fitness function represents a filter that determines whether the agent’s knowledge gains classify for becoming a patent.