Patent indicators for monitoring convergence – examples from NFF and ICT

In order to explain the development of multi-technology companies and industries where several alternative technologies co-exist and interact over long time periods, this paper suggests an extension of path dependency theory by providing a conceptualization of the path notion which incorporates the theoretical possibility of multiple paths and path interaction. The conceptualization is applied to a patent study of three leading companies in the lighting industry: General Electric, Osram/Siemens and Philips. The study shows technology development patterns that are characterized by strong persistence, both within each path and across the whole technology field. These results demonstrate that multiple technological paths can co-exist in companies and industries, characterized by simultaneous long-term presence of several technologies. In such cases, path interaction takes place both between co-existing paths and when new, radically different paths are created. Although further studies are needed to identify the underlying self-reinforcing mechanisms, there is a clear indication that technological path dependency is not restricted to unitary progression patterns, as implied by previous conceptualizations.

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“…the emergence of 'functional foods' at the boundary between food and pharmaceuticals (cf. Bröring et al, 2006;Curran and Leker, 2011).…”

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confidence: 99%

Is one path enough? Multiple paths and path interaction as an extension of path dependency theory

Bergek

Onufrey

2013

Industrial and Corporate Change

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“…Technological convergence can trigger market convergence with new product and firms begin to merge with each other, completing the convergence process with industry fusion, considering sequential process of convergence. Curran and Leker (2011) discussed the phase of convergence based on the assumption of an idealized time series of events: scientific/knowledge convergence, technology convergence, market/applicational convergence, and industry convergence. Also, as scholars suggested in the previous studies, convergence can be considered in several dimensions: supply/demand, substitution/complementation, and product-based/ technology-based.…”

Section: Discussion and Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Patent information includes one primary classification code and additionally second classification codes. The patent co-classification shows clearly convergence between different technological domains (Curran and Leker, 2011). In this research, the association rule mining is applied to discover the linkage patterns, which show strongly related among various technology areas, based on the patent coclassification information.…”

Section: Research Methods and Samplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Patent analysis can be regarded as one of the most effective methods to keep in touch with technology trends (Karvonen and Kassi, 2010). Scholars used patent analysis to discuss convergence phenomenon (Duysters and Hagedoorn, 1998;Gambardella and Torrisi, 1998;Bröring, 2005;Curran and Leker, 2011;Kavon and Kassi, 2010). This is an exploratory research to examine technology convergence of the supply side as a firm level in the ICT sector using patent analysis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies of Hacklin (2008) and Hacklin et al (2009) developed and discussed a process of four sequential convergence stages, which are knowledge, technology, application and industry convergence, with an evolutionary perspective. Curran and Leker (2011) discussed how to measure convergence under the sequential process which is evolving when scientific disciplines and technologies and/or markets have converged. Starting with scientific disciplines that begin to use more and more research results of one another, a scientific convergence will start with cross-disciplinary citations and eventually develop further into closer research collaborations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Convergence in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Using Patent Analysis

Kim

Koh

2014

JISTEM USP

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Since the 1990s, information and communication technology (ICT) has been perceived as the critical technology for economic development, and the ICT industry itself has been growing exceptionally fast. Moreover, technology convergence in ICT has received particular attention. ICT innovations diffuse into existing products and thus come to form a new integral part of the goods. This is an exploratory research to examine technology convergence of the supply side as a firm level in the ICT sector using International Patent Classification (IPC) of 43,636 sample patents from 1995 to 2008. This study finds a degree of merger and relationships between different technology domains through the association rule mining of patent coclassification. This type of analysis helps companies to take strategies under the environment of technological trajectory change.

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Management Challenges in the Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry

Leker

Utikal

2017

Business Chemistry

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Patent indicators for monitoring convergence – examples from NFF and ICT

Cited by 284 publications

References 36 publications

Is one path enough? Multiple paths and path interaction as an extension of path dependency theory

Is one path enough? Multiple paths and path interaction as an extension of path dependency theory

Convergence in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Using Patent Analysis

Management Challenges in the Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry

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