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The light and shade of knowledge recombination: Insights from a general-purpose technology

Author

Listed:
  • Francesco Paolo Appio

    (EMLV - École de management Léonard de Vinci)

  • Antonella Martini

    (UniPi - University of Pisa [Italy] = Università di Pisa [Italia] = Université de Pise [Italie])

  • Gualtiero Fantoni

    (UniPi - University of Pisa [Italy] = Università di Pisa [Italia] = Université de Pise [Italie])

Abstract

This research focuses on a special case of General Purpose Technology: Bioinformatics. It explores whether – and to what extent – Bioinformatics inventions build upon inherently diverse knowledge sources. Precisely, the role of scientific and technological diversity (measured with Shannon-Wiener diversity index) as driver of impactful Bioinformatics inventions (measured at different standard deviations of the forward citations distribution) is investigated. To this purpose, we carried out an analysis of both Non-Patent and Patent references cited into Bioinformatics patented inventions in the period 1976–2014. Results from a series of logistic regression models indicate that different degrees of impact require different degrees of knowledge diversity; at the same time, and importantly for practitioners and scholars, recombining diverse scientific and technological knowledge bases not always lead to impactful inventions. In other terms: the interplay of science and technology is not always the best option to get impactful inventions.
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)

Suggested Citation

  • Francesco Paolo Appio & Antonella Martini & Gualtiero Fantoni, 2017. "The light and shade of knowledge recombination: Insights from a general-purpose technology," Post-Print halshs-02292316, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-02292316
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2017.07.018
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    Cited by:

    1. Wipatkrut, Pattharaporn & Su, Hsin-Ning, 2025. "Exploring the impact of technological convergence on General-Purpose Technologies: A multi-level generality perspective," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    2. Lili Wang & Zexia Li, 2021. "Knowledge flows from public science to industrial technologies," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 46(4), pages 1232-1255, August.
    3. Ardito, Lorenzo & Natalicchio, Angelo & Appio, Francesco Paolo & Messeni Petruzzelli, Antonio, 2021. "The role of scientific knowledge within inventing teams and the moderating effects of team internationalization and team experience: Empirical tests into the aerospace sector," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 701-710.
    4. Francesco Paolo Appio & Luigi de Luca & Robert Morgan & Antonella Martini, 2019. "Patent portfolio diversity and firm profitability: A question of specialization or diversification?," Post-Print halshs-02292360, HAL.
    5. Ardito, Lorenzo & Petruzzelli, Antonio Messeni & Ghisetti, Claudia, 2019. "The impact of public research on the technological development of industry in the green energy field," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 25-35.
    6. Chen ZHU & Kazuyuki MOTOHASHI, 2022. "Government R&D spending as a driving force of technology convergence," Discussion papers 22030, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    7. 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).
    8. Fusillo, Fabrizio, 2020. "Are Green Inventions really more complex? Evidence from European Patents," Department of Economics and Statistics Cognetti de Martiis LEI & BRICK - Laboratory of Economics of Innovation "Franco Momigliano", Bureau of Research in Innovation, Complexity and Knowledge, Collegio 202002, University of Turin.
    9. Wu, Keye & Sun, Jianjun & Wang, Jiajie & Kang, Lele, 2025. "How does science convergence influence technology convergence? Different impacts of science-push and technology-pull," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    10. Wang, Fang, 2024. "Does the recombination of distant scientific knowledge generate valuable inventions? An analysis of pharmaceutical patents," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    11. Fusillo, Fabrizio, 2023. "Green Technologies and diversity in the knowledge search and output phases: Evidence from European Patents," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(4).
    12. Brea, Edgar, 2024. "The yin yang of AI: Exploring how commercial and non-commercial orientations shape machine learning innovation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(6).
    13. Wang, Tao & Wang, Jiajie & Shi, Jing & Sun, Jianjun & Kang, Lele, 2025. "Technological recombinant strategy and breakthrough innovation of team: The moderating role of science linkage," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 19(1).
    14. Guo, Min & Yang, Naiding & Wang, Jingbei & Zhang, Yanlu & Wang, Yan, 2021. "How do structural holes promote network expansion?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    15. Dong, Feng & Zhang, Guiyang & Mei, Liang, 2025. "General purpose technology R&D specialization and supply chain cross-industry expansion: The moderation effect of technology portfolio breadth and depth," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    16. Waßenhoven, Anna & Rennings, Michael & Laibach, Natalie & Bröring, Stefanie, 2023. "What constitutes a “Key Enabling Technology” for transition processes: Insights from the bioeconomy's technological landscape," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    17. Fang Han & Sejun Yoon & Nagarajan Raghavan & Hyunseok Park, 2022. "Investigating Company’s Technical Development Directions Based on Internal Knowledge Inheritance and Inventor Capabilities: The Case of Samsung Electronics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-19, March.
    18. 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.

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