Page 59 - T-I JOURNAL19 4

Technology and Innovation, Vol. 19, pp. 707-726, 2018 ISSN 1949-8241 • E-ISSN 1949-825X
Printed in the USA. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.21300/19.4.2018.707
Copyright © 2018 National Academy of Inventors. www.technologyandinnovation.org

ON THE COMMERCIALIZATION PATH:
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OUTPUTS
AMONG WOMEN IN STEM

Berna Demiralp , Laura T. R. Morrison , and Stephanie Zayed 2
2
1
1 BD2, LLC, Arlington, VA, USA
2 RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA

The role of scientific innovation is noted widely in policies targeting economic growth in the
U.S., and strategies concentrated on innovation are highly focused on science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, which hold high potential for economic gains
and growth from commercialization of innovations. However, the effectiveness of policy to
promote scientific innovation and economic growth relies on the broad participation of both
men and women in all key steps on the path to commercialization; in STEM, the path begins
with education and training in STEM fields and continues through STEM entrepreneurship
and the development of intellectual property. Despite the importance of participation across
genders, evidence suggests that a gap exists between men and women in their engagement in
STEM activities through their educational and professional careers. This report presents an
examination of innovation among women in STEM fields by identifying gaps in their entre-
preneurial outcomes and highlighting future opportunities for policy improvements.
Key words: Innovation; Gender gap; Technology commercialization

INTRODUCTION begins with education and training in STEM fields
The role of scientific innovation is noted widely and continues through STEM entrepreneurship and
in policies targeting economic growth in the U.S., the development of intellectual property.
and strategies concentrated on innovation are Despite the importance of participation across
highly focused on science, technology, engineer- genders, evidence suggests that a gap exists between
ing, and mathematics (STEM) fields, which hold men and women in their engagement in STEM activ-
high potential for economic gains and growth from ities through their educational and professional
commercialization of innovations (1). However, the careers. A review of the literature reveals that, in
effectiveness of policy to promote scientific inno- general, women are under-represented among stu-
vation and economic growth relies on the broad dents pursuing STEM education (2,3). This gender
participation of both men and women in all key steps gap persists in relation to entrepreneurial perfor-
on the path to commercialization; in STEM, the path mance, where men-owned businesses outperform

_____________________
Accepted: March 1, 2018.
Address correspondence to Berna Demiralp, 901 North Pollard Street, #408, Arlington, VA 22203, USA. Tel: +1 (703) 232-1446; Fax: +1 (703) 997-1148.
E-mail: bernademiralp@bd-2.biz

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