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The Impact of the GDPR on AI Innovation: An Analysis of Patent Data in Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands

Rydfors, Karl LU (2025) EOSK12 20251
Department of Economic History
Abstract
This thesis examines the impact of the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) on AI innovation by analyzing AI patent data (2011–2021) from Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands, compared to Canada and Israel. By using a Difference-in-Differences design with event studies, robustness checks, and supporting descriptive statistics, it investigates changes in both patent volume and subfield composition. In turn, the results show no statistically significant effect of the GDPR on overall AI patenting or shifts toward data-saving subfields. Furthermore, these findings challenge the view of GDPR as a barrier to innovation and suggest a limited regulatory impact, contributing to the broader debate on regulation and technological development.
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author
Rydfors, Karl LU
supervisor
organization
course
EOSK12 20251
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Innovation, AI, Data, AI Innovation, GDPR, General Data Privacy Regulation, Regulation, Privacy Regulation, Patent, Sweden, Netherlands, Germany, Canada, Israel
language
English
id
9205348
date added to LUP
2025-08-18 10:51:56
date last changed
2025-08-18 10:51:56
@misc{9205348,
  abstract     = {{This thesis examines the impact of the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) on AI innovation by analyzing AI patent data (2011–2021) from Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands, compared to Canada and Israel. By using a Difference-in-Differences design with event studies, robustness checks, and supporting descriptive statistics, it investigates changes in both patent volume and subfield composition. In turn, the results show no statistically significant effect of the GDPR on overall AI patenting or shifts toward data-saving subfields. Furthermore, these findings challenge the view of GDPR as a barrier to innovation and suggest a limited regulatory impact, contributing to the broader debate on regulation and technological development.}},
  author       = {{Rydfors, Karl}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Impact of the GDPR on AI Innovation: An Analysis of Patent Data in Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}