The Role of Public Universities as Determinants of Economic Growth in Mexico

In this work, the patents generated and applied by public universities are studied as a determinant of economic growth. Although the growth economic models contemplate the generation of knowledge as a determinant of growth, it is also true that not all public universities have a vocation as generators of knowledge codified in patents, utility models or industrial designs. On the other hand, it is important to point out that there are different productive vocations in the different states, which could represent a differentiated effect of the innovative efforts of public universities. To study this phenomenon, the “Google Patents” patent database is used, in which the patents of Mexican public universities are searched for the period 2010-2020. These patent data are fed into a growth model, with accumulated effects. The results show a positive effect of the generation of patents on economic growth, without no conclusive evidence on the effect of university patents on economic growth. The results suggest that patent registration should be promoted as an essential activity of public universities, since this has long-term economic impacts on the well-being of the population.