Biography

I am a Research Fellow at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) with over 10 years of experience conducting research in science, technology, and innovation policy. I hold a Master’s in Economics and a Ph.D. in Public Policy. At the IDB, I study the drivers of business innovation and its impacts using causal inference methods and rich data sources including firm-level administrative records, survey microdata, and synthetic AI-generated datasets we have developed.

I also collaborate on research projects studying emerging technologies at Georgia Tech. This work uses large language models, machine learning, and other AI technologies to extract and analyze unstructured data from patents, research papers, and policy documents. Current projects include analyzing narrative value promises in AI and nanotechnology patent text to examine their role in patent value and technology direction; studying US state policy advisory networks in autonomous vehicles; investigating the implications of corporate dominance in US AI basic research; and evaluating technology transfer policies designed to increase invention disclosure rates.

Email: spelaez3@gatech.edu

Research

Peer-reviewed

Pelaez, S., & Gutierrez, J. D. (2025). The Gradual Impact of Sanctioning Cartels on Market Competition. Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, 25(1), 6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10842-025-00446-9

Pelaez, S., Verma, G., Ribeiro, B., & Shapira, P. (2024). Large-scale text analysis using generative language models: A case study in discovering public value expressions in AI patents. Quantitative Science Studies, 1-26. https://doi.org/10.1162/qss_a_00285

Pelaez, S., Hurtado, B., & Avila-Maecha, J. (2024). Taxation and innovation: evidence from Colombia. Economics of Innovation and New Technology, 33(1), 166-184. https://doi.org/10.1080/10438599.2022.2145560

Pelaez, S., Youtie, J., & Shapira, P. (2022). Analyzing research outcomes and spillovers at a US nanotechnology user facility. Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 24(12), 243. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-022-05601-5

Pelaez, S. (2018). Ciclo de recursos naturales y politica fiscal bajo preferencias inconsistentes. Coyuntura Economica. 48(1 y 2) Junio-Diciembre, pp. 13-78. http://hdl.handle.net/11445/3844

Preprints/Working papers

Pelaez, S., Verma, G., Ribeiro, B., & Shapira, P. Do Societal Promises Influence Patent Value? An Analysis of Inventions in Artificial Intelligence? R&R at Research Policy Available at SSRN 4873074: http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4873074

Pelaez, S., & Hicks, D. (2024). Are Societal Promises in Science and Technology Substantiated? The Case of Value Expressions in Patents Available at SSRN 4941820: http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4941820

Pelaez, S. (2024). Exporting Knowledge-Intensive Business Services (KIBS): Innovation and Complementary Factors. Available at SSRN 4799870: http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4799870

Work in progress

Pelaez, S. The Fiscal Returns of Industrial Policy.

Pelaez, S., Walsh, J., Jeongyoon, J ., Lee, Y., & Ceccagnoli, M. Rethinking University Invention Disclosures: Does More Mean Better?

Hicks, D., Gupta, N., Pelaez, S., & Kingsley, G. The Structure of State Policy Advisory Networks: Evidence from U.S. Autonomous Vehicle Reports.

Pelaez, S., Widmaier, K., Sugimoto, C. Industry Set to Outperform Universities in Basic Research

Cazor, A., Calvo, S., Goni, E., Pelaez, S. What Sustains Productivity in Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs)?

Aparicio, G., Gerardino, M. P., Goni, E., Pelaez, S., Rosas, D., Tuesta, H. How effective are business training programs for entrepreneurs of necessity-driven startups? An RCT of Fondoempleo’s Entrepreneurship Program