Innovation-Related Services Trade by Multinational Enterprises: Results from an Interagency Data Link Project

This paper presents summary information on U.S.-located MNEs that engage in both R&D and international trade in selected innovation-related services (charges for IP and R&D services), based on a microdata link of several U.S. economic and R&D surveys. Aggregate linked data suggest that MNEs that engage in innovation-related services are more R&D-intensive than MNEs that perform R&D but do not engage in these transactions. The paper also illustrates differences in trade balances for these services by U.S. MNE parent companies and by U.S. affiliates of foreign MNEs.