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How to measure inventive speed? A new patent activity assessment dimension

Author

Listed:
  • Aleksei L. Kalinichenko

    (Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech))

  • Nikita A. Paplavsky

    (Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech))

  • Ivan V. Oseledets

    (Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech)
    Artificial Intelligence Research Institute (AIRI))

Abstract

This study presents a methodology for the objective measurement of inventive speed as a quantitative characteristic of the effectiveness of the creative process in R&D. It is put forth as an additional approach to the established quantitative methods for measuring patent activity. The methodology determines the mean inventive range within a given dataset of patent publications. This is calculated by identifying the difference between a patent's priority date and that of the closest analogous invention. This allows the rate and frequency of updates to be established for the technical solutions created. A computer program was developed to automate the implementation of the method, which was then tested on a number of companies in the semiconductor industry. The analysis identified two companies that exhibited markedly disparate rates of invention, both in terms of upward and downward trends. The proposed methodology is fully automated and is not influenced by the quantitative characteristics of the data sets analysed, in contrast to previously known methods. It can serve as a supplementary tool for building patent landscapes, analysing the efficiency of R&D processes in companies or countries, as well as for studying the technological field's development cycle.

Suggested Citation

  • Aleksei L. Kalinichenko & Nikita A. Paplavsky & Ivan V. Oseledets, 2025. "How to measure inventive speed? A new patent activity assessment dimension," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 50(4), pages 1815-1839, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jtecht:v:50:y:2025:i:4:d:10.1007_s10961-024-10157-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s10961-024-10157-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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