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Transnational citation, technological diversity and small world in global nanotechnology patenting

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  • Jiancheng Guan

    (Chinese Academy of Science, Graduate University)

  • Yuan Shi

    (National University of Singapore
    Fudan University)

Abstract

Despite the extensive studies conducted in the field of nanotechnology based on US patent data, the choice of a single database may impede a wider view of this technology frontier. Based on patent data from the Derwent Innovation Index database that covers the data of 41 major patent offices, we review the development of nanotechnology patenting from the dimensions of patenting authority and technological classification. We find that a small number of countries dominating the technology have similar technological diversity in terms of nanotechnology patents. After the discussion and summary of the citation modes and citation rate curve, we construct the patent citation networks at the patent document level and discuss the distinctive transnational citation patterns. We then use Search Path Count Method to extract the technological trajectory, where we find very high selectiveness. In the final section of this paper, we discover the small world phenomenon in the citation networks, which is widely investigated in undirected networks such as co-authorship networks, but rarely touched in citation networks due to the limitations of the presumptions. We propose the reachable path length and citation clustering in the revised small world model for acyclic directed networks and provide the realistic meaning of the new measures.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiancheng Guan & Yuan Shi, 2012. "Transnational citation, technological diversity and small world in global nanotechnology patenting," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 93(3), pages 609-633, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:93:y:2012:i:3:d:10.1007_s11192-012-0706-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-012-0706-9
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    2. Liu, Ju & Chaminade, Cristina, 2014. "Exploring the interplay, differences, and commonalities between global production networks and global innovation networks of two multinational companies," Papers in Innovation Studies 2014/7, Lund University, CIRCLE - Centre for Innovation Research.
    3. Woo Jin Lee & Won Kyung Lee & So Young Sohn, 2016. "Patent Network Analysis and Quadratic Assignment Procedures to Identify the Convergence of Robot Technologies," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(10), pages 1-16, October.
    4. Roman Jurowetzki, 2015. "Unpacking Big Systems - Natural Language Processing meets Network Analysis. A Study of Smart Grid Development in Denmark," SPRU Working Paper Series 2015-15, SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex Business School.
    5. Kang, Inje & Yang, Jiseong & Lee, Wonjae & Seo, Eun-Yeong & Lee, Duk Hee, 2023. "Delineating development trends of nanotechnology in the semiconductor industry: Focusing on the relationship between science and technology by employing structural topic model," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
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    7. Gupeng Zhang & Jiancheng Guan & Xielin Liu, 2014. "The impact of small world on patent productivity in China," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 98(2), pages 945-960, February.
    8. Jia Zheng & Zhi-yun Zhao & Xu Zhang & Dar-zen Chen & Mu-hsuan Huang, 2014. "International collaboration development in nanotechnology: a perspective of patent network analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 98(1), pages 683-702, January.
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