Intellectual Property Protection And Innovation Performance Of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Firms In Kenya

Abstract

The pharmaceutical manufacturing industry has significantly embraced the importance of intellectual property asset. This is due to the need to sustain competitive advantage and the fact that the industry is largely knowledge-intensive. The study was aimed to establish the practice of Intellectual Property protection by the pharmaceutical manufacturers in Kenya and to determine the relationship between Intellectual Property protection and innovation performance in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry in Kenya. The study is based on four main theories namely utilitarian theory of intellectual property, theory of innovation, dynamic capabilities theory and theory of competition. The study involved a descriptive research design. The study targeted all pharmaceutical manufacturing firms listed by the pharmaceutical society of Kenya. Primary data was used in the study. The study used a structured questionnaire to collect the needed data. The questionnaire had three parts to help address the study objectives. Data analysis was guided by the research objectives. Data from the questionnaire was edited, coded and analyzed. Descriptive statistics was used to establish the practice of Intellectual Property policy in the pharmaceutical industry in Kenya. The study established that majority of the companies representing exploits image/brand and knows how. The companies also exploits both knowledge and business process. In another finding the study established that most of the companies realized increased revenue arising from intellectual property protection. Secondly, the findings the study shows that there is a strong positive relationship between the intellectual property protection and innovation performance. The study further found out that intellectual property protection influences innovation performance significantly. The study recommends the need for policy formulation on intellectual property protection by manufacturing companies in the pharmaceutical firms. The government of Kenya can use the findings of this research to get pragmatic approach and will realized the benefits of intellectual property policy framework and its significant role in the pharmaceutical industry in Kenya.