for occupations dominated by that very gender. We find that these "gendered" patent applications are more likely to be subject to greater examination intensity and also more likely to be
rejected post such an examination. Using text analysis of about 2.35 million US patent applications filed between 2001 and 2018, we find that patents with female-dominated inventor teams
are more likely to focus on occupations that mainly involve women.
Along the same lines, male-dominated inventor teams are more likely to focus on occupations that mainly involve
men. However, patent examiners are about 12.5% more likely to reject patents that are specific to male-dominated occupations and 11.7% more likely to reject patents that are specific
to female-dominated occupations. More generally, our results suggest that although patent examiners prefer broadly applicable patents that benefit the population at large, innate characteristics, more specifically the gender composition of inventor teams determines who benefits
from the innovation.
Sumeet Kumar is an Assistant Professor of Information Systems at the Indian School of Business (ISB). He studies problems at the intersection of technology and society. He is interested in analysing user behaviour, quantifying polarisation on online forums , and finding advertisements disguised as regular content on online platforms. His current focus is on identifying implicit or hidden advertisements in videos posted on children’s platforms such as YouTube Kids.
Additionally, Professor Kumar has conducted research in software design and development, with particular emphasis on user experience. He has investigated the use of mobile phone sensors during emergencies to improve situational awareness. His study on the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) service in the United States addressed several issues of critical importance to emergency alerts effectiveness and adoption. Notably, some of his research recommendations was included in the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposed changes to WEA.
He completed his undergraduate education at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur. He holds two Master’s degrees—in Software Engineering and in Machine Learning--both from Carnegie Mellon University, where he also earned his doctorate degree.
Professor Deepa Mani is Professor of Information Systems and the Deputy Dean of Academic Programmes & Digital Learning at the Indian School of Business. Deepa’s research interests are at the intersection of technology, organisation, and society. She has demonstrated significant thought leadership on the business and policy implications of technological innovations and investments. Her research articles have been published in leading academic journals and extensively featured in refereed conference proceedings, edited book chapters, and popular media outlets. Deepa serves as a Senior Editor at Information Systems Research. Deepa’s research has also had widespread impact on business practice and policy. In recognition of her impact, she was awarded the prestigious INFORMS Information Systems Society (ISS) Practical Impacts Award in 2022.
Deepa has been appointed to serve on several expert committees of the Central and State governments to provide guidance on policies for the digital economy, digital interventions in key sectors, and catalyse grassroot impacts using technology. She also extensively coaches organizations, keynotes corporate leadership events, and conducts executive education in the areas of digital business models, digital transformation and technology product management.
Deepa completed her undergraduate education at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University, Masters in Information Systems from Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania, and her doctorate in Information Systems from the University of Texas, Austin.
Anand Nandkumar is an Associate Professor of Strategy, Executive Director of SRITNE at the Indian School of Business (ISB), and Associate Dean of the Centre for Learning and Teaching Excellence. He explores industry and firm-level phenomena that influence innovation - the generation of new ideas, and entrepreneurship - distribution and commercialisation of new ideas. His research focuses on high-technology industries such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and software, and it falls in between industrial organisation (IO), economics of technological change, and strategy.
Professor Nandkumar’s current work in the innovation stream examines the effect of stronger intellectual property rights (IPR) on different aspects of innovation, such as the influence of stronger patents on long run incentives for innovation or the influence of stronger patents on the functioning of Markets for Technology (MFT). In the entrepreneurship stream, his current work examines the influence of venture capitalists on entrepreneurial performance.
Professor Nandkumar graduated with a PhD in Public Policy and Management, with a focus in strategy and entrepreneurship from Carnegie Mellon University in 2008. Prior to his PhD, he worked for 3 years with a startup in Silicon Valley, and prior to that, in New York City with one of the world’s largest financial services firms.
True to his expertise, at ISB, Professor Nandkumar teaches Strategic Innovation Management and Strategic Challenges for Innovation-based startups.
