Profiling technology development process using patent data analysis: a case study

What processes transform innovative ideas into new products? What factors hinder technological development? To elucidate these points, it is necessary to understand the profile of technological development processes. This paper presents a description of the manner in which patent data are effective for describing technology development. This paper also explains the development process as inferred from patent data. The author specifically examines a particular case of inkjet printer development, with products created through innovative ideas. The analyses are based on the number of submitted patents and their contents. Results clarify the dynamic processes leading to successful products, not through a steady building up of technology development, but through suddenly occurring processes during struggles against interruptions and halts. The validity and limits of patent analysis in the profiling of technology development processes are also discussed.

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