# Science Quality and the Value of Inventions

## TL;DR

This study reveals a strong positive correlation between the quality of scientific research referenced in patents and the commercial value of those inventions, emphasizing the importance of high-quality science for impactful innovations.

## Contribution

It provides large-scale empirical evidence linking scientific quality to invention value, including the significance of indirect science links and ranking patents by science quality.

## Key findings

- High-quality science references double patent value
- Patents without direct science links have similar value to low-quality science patents
- Science quality remains influential even through indirect links

## Abstract

Despite decades of research, the relationship between the quality of science and the value of inventions has remained unclear. We present the result of a large-scale matching exercise between 4.8 million patent families and 43 million publication records. We find a strong positive relationship between quality of scientific contributions referenced in patents and the value of the respective inventions. We rank patents by the quality of the science they are linked to. Strikingly, high-rank patents are twice as valuable as low-rank patents, which in turn are about as valuable as patents without direct science link. We show this core result for various science quality and patent value measures. The effect of science quality on patent value remains relevant even when science is linked indirectly through other patents. Our findings imply that what is considered "excellent" within the science sector also leads to outstanding outcomes in the technological or commercial realm.