Abstract
This study explored the evolution of nanotechnology based on a mapping of patent applications. Citations among patent applications designated to the European Patent Office were intensively analysed. Approximately 4300 nanotechnology patent applications linked through citations were mapped. Fifteen domains of nanotechnology patent applications were found in the map in 2003. The domains cover a wide range of application fields; they are domains related to measurement and manufacturing; electronics; optoelectronics; biotechnology; and nano materials. Maps in several reference years registered the evolution of nanotechnology, where the breadth of application fields has been broadening over time. Direct and indirect knowledge flows among different domains of nanotechnology are seemingly small at the present. Each domain of nanotechnology is likely pushing the technological frontier within its own domain. The exception is sensing and actuating technologies on the nanometre scale. Direct and indirect knowledge flows to/from this domain describe their vital role in nanotechnology. Countries’ specialisation was also analysed. Patent applications from the United States and the European Union cover a wide range of nanotechnology. Inventive activities in Japan are, however, strongly focusing on electronics. Intensive knowledge creation in specific technologies was found in Switzerland and Korea.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Binning, G., Rohrer, H., Gerber, Ch., Weibel, E. (1982), Surface studies by scanning tunnelling microscopy, Physical Review Letters, 49: 57–61.
Binning, G., Quate, C. F., Gerber, Ch. (1986), Atomic force microscope, Physical Review Letters, 56: 930–933.
Harhoff, D., Scherer, F. M., Vopel, K. (2003), Citations, family size, opposition and the value of patent rights, Research Policy, 32: 1343–1363.
Huang, Z., Chen, H., Chen, Z. K., Roco, M. C. (2004), International nanotechnology development in 2003: Country, institution, and technology field analysis based on USPTO patent database, Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 6: 325–354.
Igami, M., Saka, A. (2007), Capturing the evolving nature of science, Development of new scientific indicators and mapping of science, OECD STI Working Paper 2007/1.
Igami, M., Okazaki, T. (2007), Capturing nanotechnology’s current state of development via analysis of patents, OECD STI Working Paper 2007/4.
Meyer, M. (2000), What is special about patent citations? differences between scientific and patent citations, Scientometrics, 49: 93–123.
Meyer, M. (2006a), What do we know about innovation in nanotechnology? Some propositions about an emerging field between hype and path-dependency, paper presented at SPRU 40th Anniversary Conference — The Future of Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, SPRU, Brighton, East Sussex, United Kingdom. Available at http://www.sussex.ac.uk/units/spru/events/ocs/viewabstract.php?id=76
Meyer, M. (2006b), Are patenting scientists the better scholars? An exploratory comparison of inventor-authors with their non-inventing peers in nano-science and technology, Research Policy, 35: 1646–1662.
Michel, J., Bettels, B. (2001), Patent citation analysis, a closer look at the basic input data form patent search reports, Scientometrics, 51: 185–201.
Narin, F., Hamilton, K.S., Olivastro, D. (1997), The increasing linkage between U.S. Technology and public science, Research Policy, 26: 317–330.
Scheu, M., Veefkind, V., Verbandt, Y., Molina Galan, E., Absalom, R., Förster, W. (2006), Mapping nanotechnology patents: The EPO approach, World Patent Information, 28: 204–211.
Schummer, J. (2004), Multidisciplinarity, Interdisciplinarity and patterns of research collaboration in nanoscience and nanotechnology, Scientometrics, 59: 425–465.
Swope, W. C., Aandersen, H. C., Berens, P. H., Wilson, K. R. (1982), A computer simulation method for the calculation of equilibrium constants for the formation of physical clusters of molecules: Application to small water clusters, Journal of Chemical Physics, 76: 637–649.
Wasserman, S., Faust, K. (1994), Social Network Analysis: Methods and Applications, Cambridge University Press, United Kingdom.
Webb, C., Dernis, H., Harhoff, D., Hoisl, K. (2005), Analysing European and International Patent Citations: A Set of EPO Patent Database Building Blocks, OECD STI Working Paper 2005/9.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Igami, M. Exploration of the evolution of nanotechnology via mapping of patent applications. Scientometrics 77, 289–308 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-007-1973-8
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-007-1973-8