Using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to Explore the Influences of Number of Inventors, Average Age of Patents, and Age of Patenting Activities on Patent Performance and Corporate Performance

This study utilizes artificial neural network (ANN) to explore the nonlinear influences of number of inventors, average age of patents, and age of patenting activities on patent citations and corporate performance in the US pharmaceutical industry. The results show that number of inventors, average age of patents, and age of patenting activities of the US pharmaceutical companies have the nonlinearly and monotonically positive influences on their patent citations that are positively related to corporate performance. This study also proves that patent citations play a full mediator between corporate performance and the three antecedents: number of inventors, average age of patents, and age of patenting activities. Therefore, if US pharmaceutical companies want to enhance their patent performance and corporate performance, they should enhance their number of inventors, average age of patents, and age of patenting activities.