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Mapping general purpose technologies with patent data

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  • Petralia, Sergio

Abstract

This article develops a three-dimension indicator to capture the main features of General Purpose Technologies (GPTs) in patent data. Technologies are evaluated based on their scope for improvement and elaboration, the variety of products and processes that use them, and their complementarity with existing and new technologies. Technologies’ scope for improvement is measured using patenting growth rates. The range of its uses is mapped by implementing a text-mining algorithm that traces technology-specific vocabulary in the universe of all available patent documents. Finally, complementarity with other technologies is measured using the co-occurrence of technological claims in patents. These indicators are discussed and evaluated using widely studied examples of GPTs such as Electric & Electronic (at the beginning of the 20th century) and Computer & Communications. These measures are then used to propose a simple way of identifying GPTs with patent data. It is shown there exist a positive association between the rate of adoption of GPTs in sectors, measured in terms of the number of GPT patents, and their growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Petralia, Sergio, 2020. "Mapping general purpose technologies with patent data," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(7).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:respol:v:49:y:2020:i:7:s0048733320300925
    DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2020.104013
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    5. Simon Bruhn & Johanna Deperi, 2022. "The Contribution of Digital Firms to Productivity Growth in the Manufacturing Sector: A Decomposition Approach," GREDEG Working Papers 2022-42, Groupe de REcherche en Droit, Economie, Gestion (GREDEG CNRS), Université Côte d'Azur, France.
    6. Liu & Li-Lun & Chiang & Chung Hang, 2023. "Patent Trend Analysis: Extended Reality (XR) and Future Virtual Adventure," Advances in Management and Applied Economics, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 13(2), pages 1-2.
    7. Goldfarb, Avi & Taska, Bledi & Teodoridis, Florenta, 2023. "Could machine learning be a general purpose technology? A comparison of emerging technologies using data from online job postings," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(1).
    8. Ding, Jeffrey, 2022. "Techno-industrial Policy for New Infrastructure: China’s Approach to Promoting Artificial Intelligence as a General Purpose Technology," Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation, Working Paper Series qt1sb844ws, Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation, University of California.
    9. Yoruk, Esin & Radosevic, Slavo & Fischer, Bruno, 2023. "Technological profiles, upgrading and the dynamics of growth: Country-level patterns and trajectories across distinct stages of development," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(8).
    10. Abbasiharofteh, Milad & Kriesch, Lukas, 2024. "Not all twins are identical: the digital layer of “twin” transition market applications," Papers in Innovation Studies 2024/16, Lund University, CIRCLE - Centre for Innovation Research.
    11. Neuhäusler, Peter & Rammer, Christian & Frietsch, Rainer & Feidenheimer, Alexander & Stenke, Gero & Kladroba, Andreas, 2022. "Neue Liste FuE-intensiver Güter und Wirtschaftszweige sowie wissensintensiver Wirtschaftszweige 2021," Studien zum deutschen Innovationssystem 13-2022, Expertenkommission Forschung und Innovation (EFI) - Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation, Berlin.
    12. Kroll, Henning & Berghäuser, Hendrik & Blind, Knut & Neuhäusler, Peter & Scheifele, Fabian & Thielmann, Axel & Wydra, Sven, 2022. "Schlüsseltechnologien," Studien zum deutschen Innovationssystem 7-2022, Expertenkommission Forschung und Innovation (EFI) - Commission of Experts for Research and Innovation, Berlin.
    13. Bathelt, Harald & Storper, Michael, 2023. "Related variety and regional development: a critique," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 120162, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    14. Harald Bathelt & Michael Storper, 2022. "Related Variety and Regional Development," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 2214, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Aug 2022.
    15. Waßenhoven, Anna & Rennings, Michael & Laibach, Natalie & Bröring, Stefanie, 2023. "What constitutes a “Key Enabling Technology” for transition processes: Insights from the bioeconomy's technological landscape," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    16. Michael J. Andrews, 2021. "Historical patent data: A practitioner's guide," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 368-397, May.
    17. Sergio Petralia, 2020. "GPTs and Growth: Evidence on the Technological Adoption of Electrical & Electronic Technologies in the 1920s," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 2033, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Aug 2020.
    18. Zhang, Yi & Wu, Mengjia & Miao, Wen & Huang, Lu & Lu, Jie, 2021. "Bi-layer network analytics: A methodology for characterizing emerging general-purpose technologies," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 15(4).
    19. Kerstin Hotte & Taheya Tarannum & Vilhelm Verendel & Lauren Bennett, 2022. "Measuring artificial intelligence: a systematic assessment and implications for governance," Papers 2204.10304, arXiv.org, revised Jul 2024.
    20. Heikkilä, Jussi & Rissanen, Julius & Ali-Vehmas, Timo, 2023. "Coopetition, standardization and general purpose technologies: A framework and an application," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(4).
    21. Bojovic, Neva, 2022. "Strategic framing of enabling technologies: Insights from firms digitizing smell and taste," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(3).
    22. Li, George Yunxiong & Ascani, Andrea & Iammarino, Simona, 2024. "The material basis of modern technologies. A case study on rare metals," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(1).
    23. Sergio Petralia, 2024. "GitPat: A Database Linking Open Source Contributions & Patenting Activity of Organizations," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 2437, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Nov 2024.
    24. Milad Abbasiharofteh & Tom Broekel & Lars Mewes, 2024. "The Roles of Geographic Distance and Technological Complexity in U.S. Interregional Co-patenting Over Almost Two Centuries," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 2414, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised May 2024.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Technological change; General purpose technologies; Disruptive technologies; Patents;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • O34 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Intellectual Property and Intellectual Capital
    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General

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