The effect of patenting on the networks and connections of academic scientists

Are academic inventors more or less connected in publication networks than their non-inventing peers? Are their networks sparser or denser? Are they bridges or hubs within their research communities? Does patenting alter their behaviour and role within the network along their careers? This paper tackles these specific questions, seeking to contribute to the analysis of the characteristics and the evolution of research collaborations of scientists who became academic inventors vis-à-vis those of their colleagues who never patented. Our empirical analysis compares two ego networks. The first one is based on 2899 scientific articles written between 1987 and 2006, together with 17853 co-authors by 55 Italian academic inventors, working in the field of Chemistry. The second one is based on 2406 scientific articles written between 1987 and 2006, together with 14562 co-authors by 55 Italian academics working in the field of Chemistry who never filed a patent in their career.