Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Patent co-citation networks of Fortune 500 companies

Scientometrics volume 88, pages 761–770 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the progression of technology structure based on patent co-citation networks. Methods of patent bibliometrics, social network analysis and information visualization are employed to analyze patents of Fortune 500 companies indexed in Derwent Innovations Index, the largest patent database in the world. Based on the co-citation networks, several main technology groups are identified, including Chemicals, Petroleum Refining, Motor Vehicles, Pharmaceuticals, Electronics, etc. Relationships among the leading companies and technology groups are also revealed.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

References

  • Albert, A., & Plaza, L. M. (2004). The transfer of knowledge from the Spanish public R&D system to the productive sectors in the field of biotechnology. Scientometrics, 59(1), 3–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borgatti, S. (2002). NetDraw: Graph visualization software. Harvard: Analytic Technologies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garfield, E., & Merton, R. (1979). Citation indexing: Its theory and application in science, technology, and humanities. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamada, T., & Kawai, S. (1989). An algorithm for drawing general undirected graphs. Information processing letters, 31(12), 7–15.

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Karki, M. (1997). Patent citation analysis: A policy analysis tool. World Patent Information, 19(4), 269–272.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Kessler, M. M. (1963). Bibliographic coupling between scientific papers. American Documentation, 14(1), 10–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lai, K. K., & Wu, S. J. (2005). Using the patent co-citation approach to establish a new patent classification system. Information Processing & Management, 41(2), 313–330.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leydesdorff, L. (2007). Mapping interdisciplinarity at the interfaces between the Science Citation Index and the Social Science Citation Index. Scientometrics, 71(3), 391–405.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, X., Chen, H., et al. (2009). Managing knowledge in light of its evolution process: An empirical study on citation network-based patent classification. Journal of Management Information Systems, 26(1), 129–154.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, C., & Yang, J. (2008). Decoding patent information using patent maps. Data Science Journal, 7, 14–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lo, S. (2007). Patent analysis of genetic engineering research in Japan, Korea and Taiwan. Scientometrics, 70(1), 183–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lo, S. C. (2008). Patent coupling analysis of primary organizations in genetic engineering research. Scientometrics, 74(1), 143–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lopez-Munoz, F., Alamo, C., et al. (2003). Bibliometric analysis of biomedical publications on SSRI during 1980–2000. Depression and Anxiety, 18(2), 95–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, M. (2000). What is special about patent citations? Differences between scientific and patent citations. Scientometrics, 49(1), 93–123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moed, H. (2000). Bibliometric indicators reflect publication and management strategies. Scientometrics, 47(2), 323–346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mogee, M. E. (1991). Patent co-citation analysis of Eli Lilly & Co. patents. Research-Technology Management, 34(4), 43–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Narin, F., & D. Olivastro (1988). Technology indicators based on patents and patent citations. Handbook of quantitative studies of science and technology, 465–507.

  • Narin, F. (1994). Patent bibliometrics. Scientometrics, 30(1), 147–155.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Narin, F. (1995). Patents as indicators for the evaluation of industrial research output. Scientometrics, 34(3), 489–496.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Narin, F., Olivastro, D., et al. (1994). Bibliometrics: Theory, practice and problems. Evaluation Review, 18(1), 65–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramani, S., & De Looze, M. (2002). Using patent statistics as knowledge base indicators in the biotechnology sectors: An application to France, Germany and the UK. Scientometrics, 54(3), 319–346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Small, H. (1973). Co-citation in the scientific literature: A new measure of the relationship between two documents. Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 24(4), 265–269.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Small, H. (1997). Update on science mapping: Creating large document spaces. Scientometrics, 38(2), 275–293.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Small, H., & Upham, P. (2009). Citation structure of an emerging research area on the verge of application. Scientometrics, 79(2), 365–375.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verspagen, B. (2007). Mapping technological trajectories as patent citation networks: A study on the history of fuel cell research. Advances in Complex Systems, 10(1), 93–115.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, S., & Chen, H. (2008). Recognizing the core technology capabilities for companies through patent co-citations. Singapore, IEEE: IEEE International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The research was supported by the Social Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 10CZX011, Grant No. 08BTQ025), the project of “Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China” (Grant No. 2009041110001), as well as the project of "Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities" (Grant No. 2009-852009).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. WISE Lab, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China

    Xianwen Wang, Xi Zhang & Shenmeng Xu

Authors
  1. Xianwen Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xi Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Shenmeng Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xianwen Wang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wang, X., Zhang, X. & Xu, S. Patent co-citation networks of Fortune 500 companies. Scientometrics 88, 761–770 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-011-0414-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-011-0414-x

Keywords

search

Navigation