Universities and public research institutes, rather than companies, are driving advances in biotechnology, according to a worldwide patent analysis released today at the Bio conference in Boston. However, there is a global disparity in academic patenting activity, with the US and Japan well ahead of Europe.

The study by Marks & Clerk, the UK-based intellectual property firm, analysed biotech patenting by uni-versities, public bodies and companies between 2002 and 2006. Gareth Williams, co-author of the report, exp-ressed surprise at the dominance of the academic sector; he was disappointed but less surprised by Europe's poor performance in comparison with the US and Asia.