Policies for enhancing patent quality: Evidence from renewable energy technology in China

Understanding the policy effectiveness in renewable energy technology innovation is essential to advancing the global energy transition. This paper constructs a patent quality index for renewable energy technology, which contributes to a better expression of technology innovation by incorporating time change factors. In order to study the effectiveness of government policies for enhancing technology patent quality in renewable energy, we first categorize policies according to the regulation intensity and technological characteristics, and use a sysGMM model to assess the policy effectiveness. We further focus on heterogeneous effects of different policies on diverse technologies and region. The analysis shows that the economic incentive policies and guiding demonstrative policies better improve the quality of patent, but the effects vary across different energy technology types and regions. This paper suggests local government to prudently use the high regulatory strategies, and the design of policy mix should consider the effect of policies, technical and regional heterogeneity.

Automated summary

Understanding the effectiveness of government policies in promoting renewable energy technology innovation is crucial for global energy transition. This study develops a patent quality index for renewable energy technology, incorporating time change factors to better capture technological innovation. By categorizing policies based on regulation intensity and technological characteristics, and using a sysGMM model, the study evaluates the policy effectiveness in enhancing technology patent quality. The analysis highlights the heterogeneous effects of different policies on diverse energy technology types and regions, with economic incentive and guiding demonstrative policies showing greater improvement in patent quality. The findings suggest that local governments should carefully consider the use of high regulatory strategies, and policy design should account for policy effects, technical, and regional heterogeneity.