Knowledge Diversity in the Emerging Global Bio-Nano Sector

The Journal of Technology Transfer, 2011

While much attention has been focused on the science of nanotechnology and on the implications and risks of potential applications, less attention has been paid to the emerging dynamics of nanotechnology commercialization. Yet, it is through commercialization that most nanotechnology applications will be realized. This paper examines, from a global perspective, where and how corporations are entering into nanotechnology innovation. The paper tests the proposition that a significant shift has occurred in recent years in the orientation of corporate nanotechnology activities, from research discovery to patented applications. It also examines the extent to which the character and structure of corporate nanotechnology activity by country initially reflects national innovation system characteristics and prior public research funding inputs, in the stage when discovery is most emphasized.

This article appeared in a journal published by Elsevier. The attached copy is furnished to the author for internal non-commercial research and education use, including for instruction at the authors institution and sharing with colleagues. Other uses, including reproduction and distribution, or selling or licensing copies, or posting to personal, institutional or third party websites are prohibited. In most cases authors are permitted to post their version of the article (e.g. in Word or Tex form) to their personal website or institutional repository. Authors requiring further information regarding Elsevier's archiving and manuscript policies are encouraged to visit: http://www.elsevier.com/authorsrights This paper provides theoretical and empirical contributions on how patent scope varies over time and by type of applicants in the initial phases of an emerging technology. We refer to the literature on technology life-cycles and on appropriability regimes in order to study the evolution of patent scope – as measured by the number of claims – in the specific case of nanotechnology. Our regression analyses, based on a sample of 58,244 nanotech US patents, show that – once time, sector and firm effects are controlled for – patent scope decreases over the subsequent phases of the technology life-cycle. Moreover, we find that university nanotech patents tend to be characterized by a broader scope than other patents. We conclude by discussing the managerial and policy implications of our empirical results.

2000

Does the adaptation of incumbent firms to new methods of inventing follow similar patterns across industries and inventions? We investigate this question in the context of the revolutionary scientific advances enabling biotechnology and nanotechnology, both of which represent inventions of methods of inventing for incumbent firms. We hypothesize that an incumbent firm's ability to exploit these new methods of invention

Nature Nanotechnology, 2014

The confluence of nanotechnology and biotechnology provides significant commercial opportunities. By identifying, classifying and tracking firms with capabilities in both biotechnology and nanotechnology over time, we analyze the emergence and evolution of the global nanobiotechnology industry.

Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, 2013

We investigate how the confluence of technologies can lead to radical innovation, thus creating opportunities at the firm and industry levels. To do so, we conduct a detailed examination of the development of the transistor and of two nanobiotechnology drugs -Doxil 1 and Zevalin 1 -from an innovation management perspective. We argue that three innovation management strategies are central to the development of radical innovation from the confluence of technologies, namely: importing ideas from broad networks, creating environments which allow for deep collaboration, and technology-market matching. ß Please cite this article in press as: Maine, E., et al., Radical innovation from the confluence of technologies: Innovation management strategies for the emerging nanobiotechnology industry. J. Eng. Technol. Manage. (2013), http://dx.Please cite this article in press as: Maine, E., et al., Radical innovation from the confluence of technologies: Innovation management strategies for the emerging nanobiotechnology industry. J. Eng. Technol. Manage. (2013), http://dx.Please cite this article in press as: Maine, E., et al., Radical innovation from the confluence of technologies: Innovation management strategies for the emerging nanobiotechnology industry. J. Eng. Technol. Manage. (2013), http://dx.Please cite this article in press as: Maine, E., et al., Radical innovation from the confluence of technologies: Innovation management strategies for the emerging nanobiotechnology industry. J. Eng. Technol. Manage. (2013), http://dx.Please cite this article in press as: Maine, E., et al., Radical innovation from the confluence of technologies: Innovation management strategies for the emerging nanobiotechnology industry. J. Eng. Technol. Manage. (2013), http://dx.Please cite this article in press as: Maine, E., et al., Radical innovation from the confluence of technologies: Innovation management strategies for the emerging nanobiotechnology industry. J. Eng. Technol. Manage. (2013), http://dx.

Nanotechnology patenting has grown rapidly in recent years as an increasing number of countries are getting into the global nanotechnology race. Using a refined methodology to identify and classify nanotechnology patents, this paper analyses the changing pattern of internationalization of nanotechnology patenting activities from 1976–2004. We show that the dominance of the G5 countries have declined in recent years, not only in terms of quantity, but also in terms of quality as measured by citation indicators. In addition, using a new approach to classifying the intended areas of commercial applications, we show that nanotechnology patenting initially emphasized instrumentation, but exhibited greater diversification to other application areas in recent years. Significant differences in application area specialization are also found among major nanotechnology nations. Moreover, universities are found to play a significant and increasing role in patenting, particularly in US, UK and Canada.

2011

Convergence Innovation is the paradigm where discovery and technology creation occur at the intersection of multiple disciplines and organizations. In nanotechnology, convergence between the chemical, biological, cognitive, physical and information sciences is evident. Firms and researchers will cross the boundaries between these disciplines to create technological value--finding solutions to address health, environmental and energy challenges. In parallel will be emergence of new models of collaboration to enable knowledge creation and knowledge dissemination. Central to Convergence Innovation will be a determination of the common value of knowledge versus the private value of knowledge across the associated disciplines—with the goal of advancing and commercializing technology.

International Journal of Technology Management, 2009

The objective of the present contribution is to characterise the nature and role of entrepreneurs in nanotechnologies. The analysis is conducted with regards to specific contexts of emergence of nanotechnologies that we characterise by a two-stage process of development. We show that the risk-taking entrepreneur who transforms externalities into new activities by combining existing resources is likely to be more present in the on-going phase characterised by the deepening of the microscopic control of matter. The phase of convergence between ICT and biotechnologies should be associated to a more cognitive type of entrepreneur who combines knowledge by bridging communities together.

Nature Nanotechnology

The confluence of nanotechnology and biotechnology provides significant commercial opportunities. By identifying, classifying and tracking firms with capabilities in both biotechnology and nanotechnology over time, we analyse the emergence and evolution of the global nanobiotechnology industry.