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Technological diversity and inventor networks

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  • Grazia Cecere
  • Muge Ozman

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between the structure of intra-firm inventor networks and the technological diversity of firms. We test this relationship for a panel of 222 firms in the ICT sector for the period 1995--2003, by utilizing data on their granted patents. The results reveal that the relation between the strength of ties between inventors in R&D teams and the firms' technological diversity is curvilinear. In other words, while strong ties between inventors can promote diversity, there is a limit to this positive effect. After this limit, strong ties can inhibit diversity, possibly by limiting the capabilities of network members to process novelty. In addition, we find that the impact of the scale-free metric on technological diversity is negative.

Suggested Citation

  • Grazia Cecere & Muge Ozman, 2014. "Technological diversity and inventor networks," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(2), pages 161-178, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:ecinnt:v:23:y:2014:i:2:p:161-178
    DOI: 10.1080/10438599.2013.815473
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    2. İbrahim Semih & Umut Yılmaz & Erkan Erdil & Müge Özman, 2023. "What drives network evolution? Comparing R&D project and patent networks in the EU," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 32(5), pages 1109-1134.
    3. Erkan Erdil & İbrahim Semih Akçomak & Umut Yılmaz Çetinkaya, 2022. "Is There Knowledge Convergence Among European Regions? Evidence from the European Union Framework Programmes," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 13(2), pages 1243-1267, June.
    4. Giacomo Damioli & Björn Jindra & Annette Kristiansen, 2024. "International inventor teams and technological variety in multinational enterprises," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(5), pages 1660-1695, October.
    5. van Rijnsoever, Frank J. & van den Berg, Jesse & Koch, Joost & Hekkert, Marko P., 2015. "Smart innovation policy: How network position and project composition affect the diversity of an emerging technology," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(5), pages 1094-1107.

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