IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i7p2655-d337896.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Study on Dynamic Patterns of Technology Convergence with IPC Co-Occurrence-Based Analysis: The Case of 3D Printing

Author

Listed:
  • Ying Tang

    (School of Economics and Management, Xi’an University of Posts and Telecommunications, Xi’an 710061, China)

  • Xuming Lou

    (School of Economics and Management, Xi’an University of Posts and Telecommunications, Xi’an 710061, China)

  • Zifeng Chen

    (School of Economics and Management, Xi’an University of Posts and Telecommunications, Xi’an 710061, China)

  • Chengjin Zhang

    (School of Modern Post, Xi’an University of Posts and Telecommunications, Xi’an 710061, China)

Abstract

Technology convergence has become a typical characteristic of innovation, which affects the evolution of industrial structures and the core competitiveness of organizations. However, the existing research has mainly focused on the development of core areas of convergence, ignoring the potential breakthroughs that emerging peripheral convergence may bring. Therefore, this research put forward a comprehensive methodology based on IPC (International Patent Classification) co-occurrence analysis to study the dynamic patterns of technology convergence from the perspectives of reinforcing convergence and novel convergence. For the former, convergence trends in each period were explored by using association rules, and the convergence degree was measured based on the number of patents containing different IPC codes. Then, the corresponding core technical fields were identified by using information entropy. For the latter, a community detection algorithm based on IPC co-occurrence network was adopted to investigate the convergence trend by period, and important technology fields were identified by the centrality indicators. The methodology proposed in this study is beneficial for firms to seize technological opportunities in technology convergence.

Suggested Citation

  • Ying Tang & Xuming Lou & Zifeng Chen & Chengjin Zhang, 2020. "A Study on Dynamic Patterns of Technology Convergence with IPC Co-Occurrence-Based Analysis: The Case of 3D Printing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-26, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:7:p:2655-:d:337896
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/7/2655/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/7/2655/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jae Young Choi & Seongkyoon Jeong & Kyunam Kim, 2015. "A Study on Diffusion Pattern of Technology Convergence: Patent Analysis for Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(9), pages 1-24, August.
    2. Park, Inchae & Yoon, Byungun, 2018. "Technological opportunity discovery for technological convergence based on the prediction of technology knowledge flow in a citation network," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 12(4), pages 1199-1222.
    3. Rosenberg, Nathan, 1963. "Technological Change in the Machine Tool Industry, 1840–1910," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 23(4), pages 414-443, December.
    4. Bronwyn H. Hall & Adam B. Jaffe & Manuel Trajtenberg, 2001. "The NBER Patent Citation Data File: Lessons, Insights and Methodological Tools," NBER Working Papers 8498, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Karvonen, Matti & Kässi, Tuomo, 2013. "Patent citations as a tool for analysing the early stages of convergence," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 80(6), pages 1094-1107.
    6. Gauch, Stephan & Blind, Knut, 2015. "Technological convergence and the absorptive capacity of standardisation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 236-249.
    7. Geert Duysters & John Hagedoorn, 1998. "Technological Convergence in the IT Industry: The Role of Strategic Technology Alliances and Technological Competencies," International Journal of the Economics of Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 5(3), pages 355-368.
    8. Adam B. Jaffe & Manuel Trajtenberg, 2005. "Patents, Citations, and Innovations: A Window on the Knowledge Economy," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 026260065x, April.
    9. Kim, Dong-hyu & Lee, Heejin & Kwak, Jooyoung, 2017. "Standards as a driving force that influences emerging technological trajectories in the converging world of the Internet and things: An investigation of the M2M/IoT patent network," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(7), pages 1234-1254.
    10. Seongkyoon Jeong & Jong-Chan Kim & Jae Young Choi, 2015. "Technology convergence: What developmental stage are we in?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 104(3), pages 841-871, September.
    11. Han, Eun Jin & Sohn, So Young, 2016. "Technological convergence in standards for information and communication technologies," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 1-10.
    12. Ernst, Holger, 2003. "Patent information for strategic technology management," World Patent Information, Elsevier, vol. 25(3), pages 233-242, September.
    13. Xing, Wan & Ye, Xuan & Kui, Lv, 2011. "Measuring convergence of China's ICT industry: An input-output analysis," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 301-313, May.
    14. Kim, Namil & Lee, Hyeokseong & Kim, Wonjoon & Lee, Hyunjong & Suh, Jong Hwan, 2015. "Dynamic patterns of industry convergence: Evidence from a large amount of unstructured data," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(9), pages 1734-1748.
    15. Du, Jian & Li, Peixin & Guo, Qianying & Tang, Xiaoli, 2019. "Measuring the knowledge translation and convergence in pharmaceutical innovation by funding-science-technology-innovation linkages analysis," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 13(1), pages 132-148.
    16. Lee, Won Sang & Han, Eun Jin & Sohn, So Young, 2015. "Predicting the pattern of technology convergence using big-data technology on large-scale triadic patents," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 317-329.
    17. Euiseok Kim & Yongrae Cho & Wonjoon Kim, 2014. "Dynamic patterns of technological convergence in printed electronics technologies: patent citation network," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 98(2), pages 975-998, February.
    18. Kose, Toshihiro & Sakata, Ichiro, 2019. "Identifying technology convergence in the field of robotics research," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 751-766.
    19. Fai, Felicia & von Tunzelmann, Nicholas, 2001. "Industry-specific competencies and converging technological systems: evidence from patents," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 12(2), pages 141-170, July.
    20. Kim, Juram & Kim, Seungho & Lee, Changyong, 2019. "Anticipating technological convergence: Link prediction using Wikipedia hyperlinks," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 25-34.
    21. Caviggioli, Federico, 2016. "Technology fusion: Identification and analysis of the drivers of technology convergence using patent data," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 55, pages 22-32.
    22. Jeeeun Kim & Sungjoo Lee, 2017. "Forecasting and identifying multi-technology convergence based on patent data: the case of IT and BT industries in 2020," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 111(1), pages 47-65, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Park, Mingyu & Geum, Youngjung, 2022. "Two-stage technology opportunity discovery for firm-level decision making: GCN-based link-prediction approach," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    2. Jungpyo Lee & So Young Sohn, 2021. "Recommendation system for technology convergence opportunities based on self-supervised representation learning," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(1), pages 1-25, January.
    3. Chunbo Zhou & Marios Sotiriadis, 2021. "Exploring and Evaluating the Impact of ICTs on Culture and Tourism Industries’ Convergence: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-18, October.
    4. Sasaki, Hajime & Sakata, Ichiro, 2021. "Identifying potential technological spin-offs using hierarchical information in international patent classification," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    5. Choi, Jaewoong & Yoon, Janghyeok, 2022. "Measuring knowledge exploration distance at the patent level: Application of network embedding and citation analysis," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 16(2).
    6. Jong Wook Lee & So Young Sohn, 2021. "Patent data based search framework for IT R&D employees for convergence technology," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(7), pages 5687-5705, July.
    7. Seo, Wonchul & Afifuddin, Mokh, 2024. "Developing a supervised learning model for anticipating potential technology convergence between technology topics," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    8. Chie Hoon Song, 2021. "Exploring and Predicting the Knowledge Development in the Field of Energy Storage: Evidence from the Emerging Startup Landscape," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-20, September.
    9. Sick, Nathalie & Bröring, Stefanie, 2022. "Exploring the research landscape of convergence from a TIM perspective: A review and research agenda," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    10. Kai Guo & Tiantian Zhang & Yan Liang & Jiyao Zhao & Xiangmin Zhang, 2023. "Research on the promotion path of green technology innovation of an enterprise from the perspective of technology convergence: configuration analysis using new energy vehicles as an example," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(6), pages 4989-5008, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Seo, Wonchul & Afifuddin, Mokh, 2024. "Developing a supervised learning model for anticipating potential technology convergence between technology topics," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    2. Sick, Nathalie & Bröring, Stefanie, 2022. "Exploring the research landscape of convergence from a TIM perspective: A review and research agenda," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    3. Jungpyo Lee & So Young Sohn, 2021. "Recommendation system for technology convergence opportunities based on self-supervised representation learning," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(1), pages 1-25, January.
    4. Park, Mingyu & Geum, Youngjung, 2022. "Two-stage technology opportunity discovery for firm-level decision making: GCN-based link-prediction approach," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    5. Qian Xu & Yabin Yu & Xiao Yu, 2022. "Analysis of the Technological Convergence in Smart Textiles," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-13, October.
    6. Sajad Ashouri & Anne-Laure Mention & Kosmas X. Smyrnios, 2021. "Anticipation and analysis of industry convergence using patent-level indicators," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(7), pages 5727-5758, July.
    7. Zhao, Shengchao & Zeng, Deming & Li, Jian & Feng, Ke & Wang, Yao, 2023. "Quantity or quality: The roles of technology and science convergence on firm innovation performance," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    8. Qian Xu & Hua Cheng, 2021. "Research on the Evolution of Textile Technological Convergence in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-13, February.
    9. Dejing Kong & Jianzhong Yang & Lingfeng Li, 2020. "Early identification of technological convergence in numerical control machine tool: a deep learning approach," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 125(3), pages 1983-2009, December.
    10. ZHU Chen & MOTOHASHI Kazuyuki, 2022. "Government R&D spending as a driving force of technology convergence," Discussion papers 22030, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    11. Jakob Hoffmann & Johannes Glückler, 2023. "Technological Cohesion and Convergence: A Main Path Analysis of the Bioeconomy, 1900–2020," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-17, August.
    12. Kim, Yong Jin & Lee, Duk Hee, 2020. "Technology convergence networks for flexible display application: A comparative analysis of latecomers and leaders," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    13. Zhou, Yuan & Dong, Fang & Kong, Dejing & Liu, Yufei, 2019. "Unfolding the convergence process of scientific knowledge for the early identification of emerging technologies," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 205-220.
    14. Chen Zhu & Kazuyuki Motohashi, 2023. "Government R&D spending as a driving force of technology convergence: a case study of the Advanced Sequencing Technology Program," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 128(5), pages 3035-3065, May.
    15. Sun, Bing & Yang, Xueting & Zhong, Shen & Tian, Shengnan & Liang, Tian, 2024. "How do technology convergence and expansibility affect information technology diffusion? Evidence from the internet of things technology in China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    16. Zhu, Chen & Motohashi, Kazuyuki, 2022. "Identifying the technology convergence using patent text information: A graph convolutional networks (GCN)-based approach," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    17. Kose, Toshihiro & Sakata, Ichiro, 2019. "Identifying technology convergence in the field of robotics research," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 751-766.
    18. Jong Wook Lee & So Young Sohn, 2021. "Patent data based search framework for IT R&D employees for convergence technology," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(7), pages 5687-5705, July.
    19. Kim, Juram & Kim, Seungho & Lee, Changyong, 2019. "Anticipating technological convergence: Link prediction using Wikipedia hyperlinks," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 25-34.
    20. Sick, Nathalie & Preschitschek, Nina & Leker, Jens & Bröring, Stefanie, 2019. "A new framework to assess industry convergence in high technology environments," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 84, pages 48-58.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:7:p:2655-:d:337896. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.