An international political economic view of the biotechnology industry

Ian Edward Pownall*
University of Hull
Scarborough Campus
Scarborough Centre for Business and Leisure Managment
Filey Road, Scarborough
North Yorkshire, England
YO11 3AZ
Tel. 01723 362392 Ext 262 Fax. 01723 370815
E-mail: ianp@ucscarb.ac.uk

* Corresponding author

This paper uses a model developed from the international political economy (IPE) school, to address the structure of the biotechnology industry. In particular, by focusing upon four primary structural elements of the industry, knowledge, production, finance and security with key secondary considerations of biosafety, public opinion and choice of intellectual property regime, the development of biotechnology companies from developed countries fits within a triad dominated industry with specific interests towards firms from developing countries. The activities of a sample of US National Association of Securities Dealers Stock Market (NASDAQ) quoted biotechnology firms are investigated to support the model which concludes by the observation of the need to include both strategic and traditionally non strategic interests when reviewing policy formulation and objectives for firms in the biotechnology industry.