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Identifying Innovative Actors in the Electricicity Supply Industry Using Machine Learning: An Application to UK Patent Data

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  • Dolphin, G.
  • Pollitt, M.

Abstract

The recent history of the Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) of major western economies was marked by two fundamental changes: a transition toward liberalised electricity markets and a policy-led push to decarbonise the electricity generation portfolio. These changes not only affected the pace and nature of innovation activity in the sector but also altered the set of innovative actors. The present paper provides a methodology to identify these actors, which we apply to priority patents filed at the UK Intellectual Property Office over the period 1955-2016. The analysis also indicates that (i) the recent increase in innovation activity originates overwhelmingly from upstream Original Equipment Manufacturers and (ii) innovation activity in `green' electricity supply technologies slowed down in recent years.

Suggested Citation

  • Dolphin, G. & Pollitt, M., 2020. "Identifying Innovative Actors in the Electricicity Supply Industry Using Machine Learning: An Application to UK Patent Data," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 2013, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
    • Handle: RePEc:cam:camdae:2013
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    Cited by:

    1. Matteo Romagnoli, 2022. "Can electricity liberalisation foster the development of radical clean-energy technologies?," Working Papers 2022.44, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
    2. Romagnoli, Matteo, 2022. "Can electricity liberalisation foster the development of radical clean-energy technologies?," FEEM Working Papers 329738, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    innovation; electricity sector; machine learning;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L94 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Electric Utilities
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy

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