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Theory of knowledge and biotech patents: worlds apart?

Nature Biotechnology volume 29, pages 977–978 (2011)Cite this article

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The development of original research requires tacit as well as explicit knowledge, which allows for the establishment of new epistemic trajectories with novel epistemic horizons. Much of the tacit knowledge involved in the innovation process can be transmitted as explicit knowledge through the patent document.

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Figure 1: The innovation process has different stages that dynamically connect the conditions in which the problem is set with the results and the impact that the invention has (e.g., the patent and the knowledge related to it).

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the funding provided to the project 068673 by Mexico's Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT) and Institute of Science and Technology of Mexico City (ICYTDF). The authors are also indebted to the Education, Research and Health Politics Unit; Research Coordination and the Research Unit of Metabolic Diseases of Mexican Institute of Social Security, Mexico City, Mexico for their support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Myriam M. Altamirano-Bustamante is in the Research Unit of Metabolic Diseases and the Cross-Functional Group in Clinical Ethics, Century XXI Medical Center, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Mexico City, Mexico,

    Myriam M Altamirano-Bustamante

  2. Adalberto de Hoyos is in the Cross-Functional Group in Clinical Ethics, Century XXI Medical Center, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Mexico City, Mexico, and the Institute of Philosophical Research, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico,

    Adalberto de Hoyos

  3. León Olivé is in the Institute of Philosophical Research, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico.,

    León Olivé

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  1. Myriam M Altamirano-Bustamante
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  2. Adalberto de Hoyos
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  3. León Olivé
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Correspondence to León Olivé.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Altamirano-Bustamante, M., de Hoyos, A. & Olivé, L. Theory of knowledge and biotech patents: worlds apart?. Nat Biotechnol 29, 977–978 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt.2026

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