Benjamin Buttner (Eindhoven TU)

Utilizing patents to identify talent – Exploring the role of examiners in mapping international talent

Abstract. The paper investigates the patent system’s role in facilitating international talent acquisition, emphasizing the migration of high-skilled Chinese professionals to the US. We argue that patents can serve as a roadmap for firms to identify international talent, highlighting the significant role of patent examiners in this endeavor. Utilizing data from H-1B visa applications for Chinese citizens and US to Chinese patent citations, we find a notable correlation, indicating that firms are leveraging patents to source high-skilled professionals. The relationship is stronger for citations added by examiners, particularly in specific US states and sectors where the referenced patents are technologically distant. The paper introduces a novel perspective on the patent system’s function in the modern economy, suggesting it is a valuable tool in international talent identification and acquisition.