Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Transnational citation, technological diversity and small world in global nanotechnology patenting

  • Published:
Scientometrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Despite the extensive studies conducted in the field of nanotechnology based on US patent data, the choice of a single database may impede a wider view of this technology frontier. Based on patent data from the Derwent Innovation Index database that covers the data of 41 major patent offices, we review the development of nanotechnology patenting from the dimensions of patenting authority and technological classification. We find that a small number of countries dominating the technology have similar technological diversity in terms of nanotechnology patents. After the discussion and summary of the citation modes and citation rate curve, we construct the patent citation networks at the patent document level and discuss the distinctive transnational citation patterns. We then use Search Path Count Method to extract the technological trajectory, where we find very high selectiveness. In the final section of this paper, we discover the small world phenomenon in the citation networks, which is widely investigated in undirected networks such as co-authorship networks, but rarely touched in citation networks due to the limitations of the presumptions. We propose the reachable path length and citation clustering in the revised small world model for acyclic directed networks and provide the realistic meaning of the new measures.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Braun, T., Schubert, A., & Zsindely, S. (1997). Nanoscience and nanotechnology on the balance. Scientometrics, 38(2), 281–292.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang, P. L., Wu, C. C., & Leu, H. J. (2010). Using patent analyses to monitor the technological trends in an emerging field of technology: A case of carbon nanotube field emission display. Scientometrics, 82, 5–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Z. F., & Guan, J. C. (2010). The impact of small world on innovation: An empirical study of 16 countries. Journal of Informetrics, 4, 97–106.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Darby, M. R., & Zucker, L. G. (2003). Grilichesian breakthroughs: Inventions of methods of inventing and firm entry in nanotechnology. NBER Working Paper No. 9825, p. 64.

  • Dibiaggio, L., & Nesta, L. (2005). Patents statistics, knowledge specialization and the organization of competencies. Revue d’économie industrielle, 110, 103–126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dosi, G. (1982). Technological paradigms and technological trajectories: A suggested interpretation of the determinants and directions of technical change. Research Policy, 11, 147–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Easley, D., & Kleinberg, J. (2010). Networks, crowds and markets. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Fleming, L., King, C., & Juda, A. I. (2007a). Small world and regional innovation. Organizational Science, 18, 938–954.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fleming, L., Mingo, S., & Chen, D. (2007b). Collaborative brokerage, generative creativity, and creative success. Administrative Science Quarterly, 52(3), 443–475.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guan, J. C., & Liu, S. Z. (2005). Comparing regional innovative capacities of PR China based on data analysis of the national patents. International Journal of Technology Management, 32, 225–245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guan, J. C., & Ma, N. (2007). China’s emerging presence in nanoscience and nanotechnology: A comparative bibliometric study of several nanoscience ‘giants’. Research Policy, 36(6), 880–886.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, Z., Chen, H., Yip, A., Ng, G., Guo, F., Chen, Z. K., et al. (2003). Longitudinal patent analysis for nanoscale science and engineering: Country, institution and technology field. Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 5, 333–363.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, C., Notten, A., & Rasters, N. (2011). Nanoscience and technology publications and patents: A review of social science studies and search strategies. Journal of Technology Transfer, 36, 145–172.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hummon, N. P., & Doreian, P. (1989). Connectivity in a citation network - the development of DNA theory. Social Networks, 11(1), 39–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hung, S. W., & Wang, A. P. (2010). Examining the small world phenomenon in the patent citation network: A case study of the radio frequency identification (RFID) network. Scientometrics, 82, 121–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Islam, N., & Miyazaki, K. (2010). An empirical analysis of nanotechnology research domains. Techovation, 30, 229–237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

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

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Khoury, T. A., & Pleggenkuhle-Miles, E. G. (2011). Shared inventions and the evolution of capabilities: Examining the biotechnology industry. Research Policy, 40, 943–956.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kostoff, R. N., Koytcheff, R. G., & Lau, C. G. Y. (2008). Structure of the nanoscience and nanotechnology applications literature. Journal of Technology Transfer, 33(5), 472–484.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leydesdorff, L. (1998). Theories of citation? Scientometrics, 43(1), 5–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leydesdorff, L. (2008). Patent classifications as indicators of intellectual organization. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 59(10), 1582–1597.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, X., Chen, H., Huang, Z., & Roco, M. C. (2007). Patent citation network in nanotechnology (1976–2004). Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 9, 337–352.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, L. W., & Zhang, L. D. (2005). Nanotechnology in China-Now and in the future. Nanotechnology Law Business, 2(4), 397–403.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, X., Zhang, P. Z., Li, X., Chen, H. C., Dang, Y., Larson, C., et al. (2009). Trends for nanotechnology development in China, Russia and India. Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 11, 1845–1866.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marinova, D., & McAleer, M. (2003). Nanotechnology strength indicators: International rankings based on US patents. Nanotechnology, 14, R1–R7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Medina, C. C., & Noyons, E. C. M. (2008). Combining mapping and citation network analysis for a better understanding of the scientific development: The case of the absorptive capacity field. Journal of Informetrics, 2, 272–279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, M. (2007). What do we know about innovation in nanotechnology? Some propositions about an emerging field between hype and path-dependency. Scientometrics, 70(3), 779–810.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Michel, J., & Bettels, B. (2001). Patent citation analysis: A closer look at the basic input data from patent search reports. Scientometrics, 51(1), 185–201.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mina, A., Ramlogana, R., Tampubolon, G., & Metcalfe, J. S. (2007). Mapping evolutionary trajectories: Applications to the growth and transformation of medical knowledge. Research Policy, 36, 789–806.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mogoutov, A., & Kahane, B. (2007). Data search strategy for science and technology emergence: A scalable and evolutionary query for nanotechnology tracking. Research Policy, 36, 893–903.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nerka, A., & Shane, S. (2007). Determinants of invention commercialization: An empirical examination of academically sourced inventions. Strategic Management Journal, 28, 1155–1166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nooy, W. D., Mrvar, A., & Batagelj, V. (2005). Exploratory social network analysis with Pajek. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Pilkington, A., & Meredith, J. (2009). The evolution of the intellectual structure of operations management—1980–2006: A citation/co-citation analysis. Journal of Operations Management, 27, 185–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Porter, A. L., Youtie, J., Shapira, P., & Schoeneck, D. J. (2008). Refining search terms for nanotechnology. Journal of Nanoparticle Ressearch, 10, 715–728.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rafols, I., & Meyer, M. (2007). How cross-disciplinary is bionanotechnology? Explorations in the specialty of molecular motors. Scientometrics, 70(3), 633–650.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roco, M. C. (2007). The NNI: Past, present and future. In W. A. Goddard, D. Brenner, S. E. Lyshevski, & G. J. Iafrate (Eds.), Handbook on nanoscience, engineering and technology (pp. 0301–0326). Boca Raton: CRC Press.

  • Sampat, B. N. (2004). Examining patent examination: An analysis of examiner and applicant generated prior art. Working Paper.

  • Schilling, M. A., & Phelps, C. C. (2007). Interfirm collaboration networks: The impact of large-scale network structure on firm innovation. Management Science, 53, 1113–1126.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Stembridge, B. (1999). International patent classification in Derwent databases. World Patent Information, 21, 169–177.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trajtenberg, M. (1990). A penny for your quotes: Patent citations and the values of inventions. RAND Journal of Economics, 21, 172–187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trajtenberg, M., Henderson, R., & Jaffe, A. B. (2002). Patents, citations, and innovations—A window on the knowledge economy. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Uzzi, B., Amaral, L. A., & Tsochas, F. R. (2007). Small-world networks and management science research: A review. European Management Review, 4, 77–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uzzi, B., & Spiro, J. (2005). Collaboration and creativity: The small world problem. American Journal of Sociology, 111, 447–504.

    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 

  • Wang, G. B., & Guan, J. C. (2010). The role of patenting activity for scientific research: A study of academic inventors from China’s nanotechnology. Journal of Informetrics, 4(3), 338–350.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, J. C., Chiang, C. H., & Lin, S. W. (2010). Network structure of innovation: Can brokerage or closure predict patent quality? Scientometrics, 84, 735–748.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watts, D. J., & Strogatz, S. H. (1998). Collective dynamics of ‘small-world’ networks. Nature, 393, 440–442.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong, P. K., Ho, Y. P., & Chan, C. K. (2007). Internationalization and evolution of application areas of an emerging technology: The case of nanotechnology. Scientometrics, 70(3), 715–737.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu, G., Wang, M. Y., & Yu, D. R. (2010). Characterizing knowledge diffusion of Nanoscience & Nanotechnology by citation analysis. Scientometrics, 84, 81–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, Q. J., & Guan, J. C. (2011). International collaboration of three ‘giants’ with the G7 countries in emerging nanobiopharmaceuticals. Scientometrics, 87(1), 159–170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zitt, M., & Bassecoulard, E. (2006). Delineating complex scientific fields by an hybrid lexical-citation method: An application to nanosciences. Information Processing and Management, 42, 1513–1531.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The paper is a stage result of the proposed project “Measuring complex innovation networks of frontier sciences and emerging technologies” to National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) in 2012 and is also supported by a NSFC’s project (No. 70932001). The authors are grateful for the editor’s and the reviewer’s valuable comments and suggestions that have led to the significant improvement of this article.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Management, Chinese Academy of Science, Graduate University, Beijing, 100190, People’s Republic of China

    Jiancheng Guan

  2. Business School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119245, Singapore

    Yuan Shi

  3. School of Management, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, People’s Republic of China

    Yuan Shi

Authors
  1. Jiancheng Guan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yuan Shi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jiancheng Guan.

Additional information

Jiancheng Guan and Yuan Shi contributed equally to this paper.

Appendices

Appendix 1

See Table 5.

Table 5 Information on 20 Derwent Manual Code with most patent records
Full size table

Appendix 2

See Table 6.

Table 6 Information of patents on the technological trajectory
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Guan, J., Shi, Y. Transnational citation, technological diversity and small world in global nanotechnology patenting. Scientometrics 93, 609–633 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-012-0706-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-012-0706-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation