Gender disparities in Chinese patenting activities: females increasingly participate but collaborate less

Abstract

This study explores gender differences in patenting activities in China, focusing on how economic, social, and cultural influences relate to these differences. It highlights two dimensions of gender disparities: participation and collaboration. Our analysis examines whether the factors influencing women's participation differ from those affecting their collaboration in patenting. Based on a dataset of 281,801 patents submitted by independent inventors from the top 20 inventive Chinese cities from 2000 to 2015, we discover: (1) an increase in female participation in patenting over time, but a decrease in female collaboration; (2) variations in both female participation and collaboration across Chinese cities, which have changed over time; (3) partial overlap in the factors driving female participation and collaboration, though distinct differences exist depending on the context. These results suggest that initiatives to reduce gender disparities in participation might not have the same effect on collaboration. Policymakers should craft specific strategies to promote both women's participation and collaboration concurrently.