Linkage between patent management and technological innovation performance: New evidence from Chinese high-tech enterprises

Given the changing role of patents within enterprises, this study aims to investigate the linkage between patent management (PM) and technological innovation performance (TIP) from a resource-based perspective. According to 252 valid samples collected from 106 high-tech enterprises, the analysis results show that patent acquisition (PA) has positively effect on patent protection (PP) and patent commercialization (PC); PP has positively effect on PC and PA; PA and PC have positively effect on TIP. Therefore, the key factors to enhance the linkage between PM and TIP are effective PA and subsequent commercialization. This study not only expands the academic research fields on PM and TIP, but also provides practical underpinning to the enhancement of TIP in Chinese high-tech enterprises through committing targeted patent management under open innovation.