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Global Collaboration in Technology Sectors during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Patent Review

Author

Listed:
  • Eunsook Jeon

    (Graduate School of Management of Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoburo 2066, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea)

  • Kyungkook Kim

    (Samsung Science & Technology Foundation, 4, 74-gil Seochodaero, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06620, Republic of Korea)

  • Hyunjeong Park

    (Graduate School of Management of Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoburo 2066, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea)

  • Keuntae Cho

    (Graduate School of Management of Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoburo 2066, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
    Department of Systems Management Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoburo 2066, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea)

Abstract

This study aims to identify the international technology trends and convergence structures that emerged during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic by analyzing COVID-19-related patents. Accordingly, network analysis was performed using data drawn from COVID-19-related patent applications submitted to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) between 2020 and 2022. The results showed that patent applications were submitted in 21 countries, with 97% of all applications coming from the intellectual property 5 (IP5) countries (US, Korea, China, Japan, and Europe). Technology convergence has occurred between the fields of physics and biology or between different biotechnology sectors. Owing to the nature of government-initiated development processes, technologies related to infectious diseases may exhibit a correlation between national patents and disease control policies. This study is significant since it empirically analyzes the convergence structure and development direction of global technologies engaged in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic by analyzing new patent applications after the COVID-19 outbreak. The findings of this study will help to establish new directions for overcoming other infectious diseases that may emerge in the future.

Suggested Citation

  • Eunsook Jeon & Kyungkook Kim & Hyunjeong Park & Keuntae Cho, 2023. "Global Collaboration in Technology Sectors during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Patent Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-19, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:15:p:11831-:d:1208319
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    References listed on IDEAS

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