Top-Down Legislation versus Local Traditions Entrepreneurship and Innovation Strategies in the Lombardo-Veneto Kingdom

This paper examines the Austrian laws on privileges that affected Lombardo-Veneto Kingdom (1815-1859) and the reasons of the resistance against patenting in this region. The analysis in particular focuses on the role played by the local academies of agriculture and commerce and their endeavour to foster economic as well as scientific advancement. Through a comparison between the privileges issued in the Lombardo-Veneto and the industrial awards granted by the main local academies this work aims to show that the innovation activity of the academies provided an alternative, often successful, route to the patent system adopted by the Austrian government.