Generation of patents and new creations: Influence of the interaction University — Company in Colombia. A critical analysis

The objective of this research has been to explore the capacity that have been developed by patent applicants in Colombia during the period 2013–2017, especially in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Information from the Espacenet (Latipat), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and Superintendency of Industry and Commerce (SIC) databases was used, analyzing the total number of requests made in Latin America and taking a sample of 1100 applications in Colombia. The results allowed to conclude that the current conditions of University — Company interaction require strengthening processes, foreign companies lead the patent application processes in Latin America, including Colombia. In the Colombian case, it is more beneficial to develop patents in collaboration with other institutions, in order to obtain success in the concession and publication processes.