Feature and Tendency of Technology Transfer in Z-Park Patent Cooperation Network:From the Perspective of Global Optimal Path

Purpose:This study aims to provide a new framework for analyzing the path of technology diffusion in the innovation network at the regional level and industrial level respectively,which is conducive to the integration of innovation resources,the coordinated development of innovative subjects,and the improvement of innovation abilities.Design/methodology/approach:Based on the Z-Park patent cooperation data,we establish Inter-Enterprise Technology Transfer Network model and apply the concept of Pivotability to describe the key links of technology diffusion and quantify the importance of innovative partnerships.By measuring the topologically structural characteristics in the levels of branch park and the technosphere,this paper demonstrates how technology spreads and promotes overall innovation activities within the innovation network.Findings:The results indicate that:(1)Patent cooperation network of the Z-Park displays heterogeneity and the connections between the innovative subjects distribute extremely uneven.(2)Haidian park owns the highest pivotability in the IETTN model,yet the related inter-enterprise patent cooperation is mainly concentrated in its internal,failing to facilitate the technology diffusion across multiple branch parks.(3)Such fields as“electronics and information”and“advanced manufacturing”are prominent in the cross-technosphere cooperation,while fields such as“new energy”and“environmental protection technology”can better promote industrial integration.Research limitations:Only the part of the joint patent application is taken into account while establishing the patent cooperation network.The other factors that influence the mechanism of technology diffusion in the innovation network need to be further studied,such as financial capital,market competition,and personnel mobility,etc.Practical implications:The findings of this paper will provide useful information and suggestions for the administration and policy-making of high-tech parks.Originality/value:The value of this paper is to build a bridge between the massive amount of patent data and the nature of technology diffusion,and to develop a set of tools to analyze the nonlinear relations between innovative subjects.

International Patent Cooperation,Patent Prosecution Highway Agreements,and Export Product Quality

This paper investigates how international cooperation for patent examination using Patent Prosecution Highway(PPH)agreements has affected the quality of firms'exports.Taking the PPH agreements signed between China and the export destinations as a quasi-natural experiment,we established a difference-in-difference-in-differences model.We found that international cooperation for patent examination caused firms to increase export quality to PPH partners in patent-intensive industries to a greater extent.This effect was more profound among PPH partners with stronger intellectual property protection,diferentiated products and core products,and agreements along with the Patent Cooperation Treaty.We also found that PPH agreements increased the number of Chinese patent applications filed in PPH partners,patent applications by PPH partners in China,and the level of innovation,all of which constitute the major channels through which export quality to PPH partners increases.Our findings demonstrate that international patent cooperation has played an important role in promoting international trade quality.

Building potential patent portfolios: An integrated approach based on topic identification and correlation analysis

Purpose： This paper suggests a framework to identify important patents for building potential patent portfolios based on patents owned by different assignees so as to highlight the value of individual patents in technology transfer and identify potential collaborators for patent assignees. Design/methodology/approach： The analysis framework includes the following steps： l） co-classification analysis based on the International Patent Classification （IPC） codes and Derwent Manual Codes （DMC） to detect sub-tech fields, 2） keyword co-occurrence analysis aiming to understand the core technology information in each patent, and 3） social network analysis used for identifying important technologies and partnerships of key assignees. A case study was conducted with 27,401 chemistry patents filed by a Chinese national research institute. Findings： The results show that this framework is effective in building potential technological patent portfolios based on patents owned by different assignees and identifying future collaborators for the assignees. This integrated approach based on topic identification and correlation analysis that combines network-based analysis with keyword-based analysis can reveal important patented technologies and their connections and help understand detailed technological information mentioned in patents. Research limitations： In keywords analysis, only titles and abstracts of patent documents were used and weights of keywords in different parts of the documents were not considered.Practical implications： The analysis framework provides valuable information for decision- makers of large institutions which have many patents with broad application prospects. Originality/value： Different from previous patent portfolio studies based on the use of a combination of patent analysis indicators, this study provides insights into a method of building patent portfolios to discover the potential of individual patents in technology transfer and promote cooperation among different patent assignees.

Structure of Chinese City Network as Driven by Technological Knowledge Flows

Based on patent cooperation data,this study used a range of city network analysis approaches in order to explore the structure of the Chinese city network which is driven by technological knowledge flows.The results revealed the spatial structure,composition structure,hierarchical structure,group structure,and control structure of Chinese city network,as well as its dynamic factors.The major findings are:1) the spatial pattern presents a diamond structure,in which Wuhan is the central city;2) although the invention patent knowledge network is the main part of the broader inter-city innovative cooperation network,it is weaker than the utility model patent;3) as the senior level cities,Beijing,Shanghai and the cities in the Zhujiang(Pearl) River Delta Region show a strong capability of both spreading and controlling technological knowledge;4) whilst a national technology alliance has preliminarily formed,regional alliances have not been adequately established;5) even though the cooperation level amongst weak connection cities is not high,such cities still play an important role in the network as a result of their location within ′structural holes′ in the network;and 6) the major driving forces facilitating inter-city technological cooperation are geographical proximity,hierarchical proximity and technological proximity.