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Mapping countries cooperation networks in photovoltaic technology development based on patent analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Alex Fabianne de Paulo

    (Universidade de São Paulo)

  • Evandro Marcos Saidel Ribeiro

    (Universidade de São Paulo)

  • Geciane Silveira Porto

    (Universidade de São Paulo)

Abstract

Research activities on solar energy has been growing and use of patents becomes an important innovation source for many types of studies. This paper aims to analyze solar photovoltaic (PV) patents and describes its assignees cooperation profile. PV patents based on IPC Green Inventory code were selected from 1990 to 2014, filtered out co-ownership patents and use social network analysis (SNA) to find PV technology development networks. Main findings are an increase of patents assignees over the years and a general concern for develop technologies “Devices adapted for the conversion radiation energy into electrical energy”, “Assemblies of a plurality of solar cells” and “Silicon; single-crystal growth”. SNA enabled to identify four countries clusters that presented cooperation behavior and shared similar concerns in PV technology development. The USA, China, Spain and Korea were main countries of each cluster. Furthermore, through network statistics, it implied that a country that had more patents was not the most important on that technology development. The USA, Germany and UK were the most relevant countries in PV technologies because they were the ones with more cooperation with other countries and with the most collaborative countries overall. Thus, these countries are the largest holders and influencers in PV technologies development. Based on the structure and interaction between country clusters, it is possible to understand who cooperates or competes with whom. So, this information allows establishing strategies of partnerships, or even of competition, between countries, firms and research centers.

Suggested Citation

  • Alex Fabianne de Paulo & Evandro Marcos Saidel Ribeiro & Geciane Silveira Porto, 2018. "Mapping countries cooperation networks in photovoltaic technology development based on patent analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 117(2), pages 667-686, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:117:y:2018:i:2:d:10.1007_s11192-018-2892-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-018-2892-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Gao, Xue & Zhang, Yi, 2022. "What is behind the globalization of technology? Exploring the interplay of multi-level drivers of international patent extension in the solar photovoltaic industry," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    2. Li, Yaya & Zhu, Zhu & Guan, Yefeng & Kang, Yanfang, 2022. "Research on the structural features and influence mechanism of the green ICT transnational cooperation network," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 734-749.
    3. Shu-Hao Chang, 2022. "Examining Key Technologies Among Academic Patents Through an Analysis of Standard-Essential Patents," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(3), pages 21582440221, July.
    4. So Yoon Yoon & Su Jung Jee & So Young Sohn, 2021. "Mapping and identifying technological coopetition: a multi-level approach," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(7), pages 5797-5817, July.
    5. De Paulo, A.F. & Porto, G.S., 2023. "Unveiling the cooperation dynamics in the photovoltaic technologies’ development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    6. Shu-Hao Chang & Chin-Yuan Fan, 2020. "Using Patent Technology Networks to Observe Neurocomputing Technology Hotspots and Development Trends," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-15, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cooperation networks; Patent analysis; Photovoltaic; Social network analysis;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • D85 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Network Formation

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