My main research focuses on the impact of migration on knowledge diffusion and innovation, particularly during the Age of Mass Migration from 1850 to 1950. In this period, over 30 million Europeans emigrated to the United States, bringing with them valuable knowledge that contributed to the transformation of the United States from a developing nation to a technological leader.
To understand the influence of these migrants on technological change, I integrate historical patent data with U.S. census data. This integration allows for the identification of inventors born outside the United States and enables the tracking of migrant inventors over time. By examining a comprehensive set of demographic and economic characteristics, I aim to quantitatively analyse how the backgrounds and environments of these inventors affected their inventive activities.
In addition to my historical research, I also study the implementation of the Smart Specialisation Strategy, a European investment policy designed to boost regional innovation.