Abstract
This paper reports on a new approach to study the linkage between science and technology. Unlike most contributions to this area we do not trace citations of scientific literature in patents but explore citations of patents in scientific literature. Our analysis is based on papers recorded in the 1996-2000 annual volumes of the CD-Edition of Science Citation Index (SCI) of the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) and patent data provided by the US Patent and Trademark Office. Almost 30,000 US patents were cited by scientific research papers. We analysed the citation links by scientific fields and technological sectors. Chemistry-related subfields tended to cite patents more than other scientific area. Among technological sectors, chemical clearly dominates followed by drugs and medical patents as the most frequently cited categories. Further analyses included a country-ranking based on inventor-addresses of the cited patents, a more detailed inspection of the ten most cited patents, and an analysis of class-field transfers. The paper concludes with the suggestions for future research. One of them is to compare our 'reverse' citation data with 'regular' patent citation data within the same classification system to see whether citations occur, irrespectively of their directionality, in the same fields of science and technology. Another question is as to how one should interpret reverse citation linkages.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
BHATTACHARYA, S., H. KRETSCHMER, M. MEYER (2003), Characterizing intellectual spaces between science and technology, Scientometrics, 58: 369-390.
BROOKS, H. (1994), The relationship between science and technology. Research Policy, 23: 477-486.
GLäNZEL, W., A. SCHUBERT, T. BRAUN (2002), A relational charting approach to the world of basic research in twelve science fields at the end of the second millennium. Scientometrics, 55: 335-348.
GLäNZEL, W., A. SCHUBERT (2003), Towards a new classification scheme of science areas with special regard to bibliometric evaluation purposes, Scientometrics, 56: 357-367.
GRUPP, H., U. SCHMOCH (1992), Wissenschaftsbindung der Technik. Panorama der internationalen Entwicklung und sektorales Tableau für Deutschland. Physica: Heidelberg.
GRUPP, H.; U. SCHMOCH (1992), Perceptions of scientification of innovation as measured by referencing between patents and papers: dynamics in science-based fields of technology. In: H. GRUPP (Ed.). Dynamics of science-based innovation. Berlin: Springer.
HALL, B., A. JAFFE, M. TRAJTENBERG (2001), The NBER Patent Citations Data File: Lessons, Insights and Methodological Tools, NBER Working Paper No. W8498.
HICKS, D. (2000), 360 Degree linkage analysis, Research Evaluation, 9: 133-143.
HICKS, D., T. BREITZMAN, D. OLIVASTRO, K. HAMILTON (2001), The changing composition of innovative activity in the US-a portrait based on patent analysis, Research Policy, 30: 681-703.
MEYER, M. (2000), Does science push technology? Patents citing scientific literature, Research Policy, 29: 409-434.
NARIN, F., E. NOMA (1985), Is technology becoming science? Scientometrics, 7: 369-381.
NARIN, F., K. S. HAMILTON, D. OLIVASTRO (1995), Linkage between agency supported research and patented industrial technology. Research Evaluation, 5: 183-187.
NARIN, F., K. S. HAMILTON, D. OLIVASTRO (1997), The increasing linkage between U.S. technology and public science. Research Policy, 26: 317-330.
PRICE, D. De SOLLA (1981), The analysis of square matrices of scientometric transactions, Scientometrics, 3: 55-63.
SCHUBERT, A., S. ZSINDeLY, T. BRAUN (1983), Scientometric analysis of attendance at international scientific meetings. Scientometrics, 5: 177-187.
SCHMOCH, U. (1993), Tracing the knowledge transfer from science to technology as reflected in patent indicators. Scientometrics, 26: 193-211.
SMITH, K., A. EKLAND, E. IVERSEN, A. KALOUDIS, P. PATEL, R. NARULA (1998), Understanding Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators, IDeA-Report 5/1998, Oslo: STEP Group.
VERBEEK, A., K. DeBACKERE, M. LUWEL, P. ANDRIES, E. ZIMMERMANN, F. DeLeUS (2002), Linking science to technology: Using bibliographic references in patents to build linkage schemes, Scientometrics, 54: 399-420.
ZIMAN, J. (1984), An Introduction to Science Studies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Glänzel, W., Meyer, M. Patents cited in the scientific literature: An exploratory study of 'reverse' citation relations. Scientometrics 58, 415–428 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026248929668
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026248929668