Colonial Innovation System, Sub-Imperial Institutions and the Creole Elite in Nineteenth-Century Cuba

Nadia Fernández-de-Pinedo (), David Pretel () and Patricio Saiz ()
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Nadia Fernández-de-Pinedo: Departamento de Análisis Económico (Teoría e Historia Económica). Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
David Pretel: Trinity Hall. University of Cambridge
Patricio Saiz: Departamento de Análisis Económico (Teoría e Historia Económica). Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Nadia Fernandez de Pinedo

No 2011/01, Working Papers in Economic History from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain), Department of Economic Analysis (Economic Theory and Economic History)

Abstract: This article examines the relationship between colonialism and technology transfer via the study of nineteenth century Cuban institutions dedicated to the stimulation of innovative activity, particularly the patent system. Preliminary findings suggest three noteworthy claims. First, during the nineteenth century Cuban Creole elites set up a ‘Colonial Innovation System’ made up of ‘sub-imperial’ institutions autonomously administered in a context where rival Atlantic empires functioned as a ‘shadow’ economic metropolis of Cuba. Second, despite having the same patent laws as metropolitan Spain, Cuban sugar elites obtained practical control and management of the patent sub-institution on the island. Third, this achievement led to an autonomous functioning of the patent system in Cuba that allowed sugar-mill owners to participate actively in the global networks of technological exchange and to generate higher levels of patent activity than in metropolitan Spain.

Keywords: patents; sugar industry; colonialism; sub-imperial institutions; technology transfer. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: N46 N76 O31 O34 O38 O54 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 21 pages
Date: 2010-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-his, nep-ino, nep-ipr and nep-pr~
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