The management of nanotechnology: analysis of technology linkages and the regional nanotechnology competencies

Abstract

This study maps the linkage of nanotechnologies and their clusters, identifies emerging and mature technologies and links to their application fields, and examines the profiles of the regional nanotechnology competencies. A model is proposed to assist with the analyses. The patent data were retrieved from the Thomson Innovation database, which were subsequently analysed with the Thomson Data Analyser. The results show technological linkages using the proposed linkage model, for example, the linkage between the cluster of nanotubes‐nanowires‐polymers and the cluster of nanowires‐semiconductors‐optical identifies a nanoelectronics domain. In the Techno‐Economic Network framework, the result shows that the United States maintains its position in the Science and Technology poles, revealing its strong competitiveness, while the nanotechnological competencies in Japan have lost strength significantly in recent years. Asian giants such as South Korea and China appear to be the most likely contenders for catching up with the United States. The theoretical contribution of this study is the theoretical framework that has been adapted and tested in this research. Practical contributions consist of descriptive and analytical findings based on actors' performances and the regions' competencies. The research offers a useful insight for academic and research practitioners on how an emerging field such as nanotechnology can be analysed, and a way forward for materialising science and technology policies in this field.

An Empirical Study of Nanowire Technological Trends

“…This study was a great example of showing converging technologies and it may allow innovators to obtain new ideas by using their techniques. Similarly, Islam and Ozcan (2015) examined the technological links by using a tech-mining method to show how different applications and research areas merge together to create new technological domains. Similarly, Kay et al (2015) studied another nanomaterial that is called graphene.…”

A Scientometric Exploration of Crowdsourcing: Research Clusters and Applications

“…We aim to identify crowdsourcing clusters and categories to answer this question. Furthermore, we aim to illustrate knowledge management and benchmarking to related research fields as it identifies themes within them, provides the visualization of research data [11] and finally, offers trend and innovation analysis [12]. A scientometric approach is chosen for this study as it helps to identify the foundations of a research field by using a quantitative approach, minimizing the subjectivity of the results [13].…”

Cross-fertilization of knowledge and technologies in collaborative research projects

“…A system of innovation (SI) (Lundvall, 2007) refers to all the organizations, institutions and interactions that contribute in one way or another to innovation (Niosi, 2008), providing a framework that integrates key science, technology and innovation institutions (Niosi, 2011). Therefore, a good understanding of an SI can lead policymakers to propose strategies aimed to enhance innovative performance and competitiveness, but also to identify bottlenecks that can hinder technology development and diffusion (Islam and Ozcan, 2015). SI stresses the importance of the knowledge flow in innovation processes and it can be applied at different levels: national, regional, sectorial and technological (Cooke, 2001; Islam and Ozcan, 2015; Lundvall et al , 2002).…”

“…Therefore, a good understanding of an SI can lead policymakers to propose strategies aimed to enhance innovative performance and competitiveness, but also to identify bottlenecks that can hinder technology development and diffusion (Islam and Ozcan, 2015). SI stresses the importance of the knowledge flow in innovation processes and it can be applied at different levels: national, regional, sectorial and technological (Cooke, 2001; Islam and Ozcan, 2015; Lundvall et al , 2002).…”