Nanotechnology patenting in Piedmont: analysis and links with research and industrial environment in the Region

The aim of the present paper is the analysis of nanotech patent activity in Piedmont. The experimental work at the core of the article is based on a database of patents that are relative to assignees located in Piedmont and belong to the Cooperative Patent Classification class B82, nanotechnology. Once prepared, the database is analysed under several aspects: time evolution of patenting, characteristics of the assignees, technological content. The present paper also tries to connect patenting activities with the local industrial and scientific environment. At the end of the work results are summarised and conclusions are drawn.