Technological interdisciplinarity and integrative development have been issues of academic discourse for some time; several studies have contributed to the investigation of techno-society and technology development. Nevertheless, the interdisciplinary technology present in patents remains insufficiently explored. This study examines a patent interdisciplinary application utilizing the USPTO database of patent documents from 2001 to 2014. The findings identify distinctive structural configurations of various technical fields and the ecology of their collaboration. This study presents the interdisciplinary embeddedness of a patent citation network which suggests a technological proximity for incubating innovative capacity. The technological positions of brokerage perform a critical fulcrum for interdisciplinary innovation, which strategizes several innovative capabilities. Meanwhile, technological push and pull promote the process of endogenous, exogenous, and heterogeneous innovation and technology evolution. Thus, this study addresses policy implications for firms and authorities interested in sustaining innovative capabilities.

1. Explore
the innovative fulcrums of
patented technology
a perspective of technology embeddedness
Hung-Chun Huang Ph.D.
National Chi Nan University,
TAIWAN
Paper ID: 19R0075
Hung-Chun Huang*, Hsin-Ning Su**, Hsin-Yu Shih*
*Department of International Business Studies, National Chi Nan University, Taiwan
**Institute of Management of Technology, National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan

2. Interdisciplinarity
Transdisciplinarity
Fusion
Convergence
Hybridization
cross-disciplinarity
Technological
“INTEGRATION”
Several labels are used to
describe this phenomenon

3. Case: patent citation network
Technological flow via patents
Core/periphery group
Network
Analysis

4. How technologies
systematically
integrate as an
innovative entity?
Technological Network
What technological
proximity presents in a
patent system?
However…

5. Network Embeddedness,
… a social science metaphoric
Opportunity
Constraint

6. Graphic representation of the five types of brokerage relation. A,
B, C are actors; ellipses correspond to group boundaries. The top
actor in each triad represents the broker.
Internal
External
A triad analysis,
Network Brokerage

7. Patented Technology
Patented
Technology
Other Fields
Chemistry
Electrical
engineering
Mechanical
engineering
Instruments
Ulrich Schmoch
5 fields 35 industries
Food chemistry, V18
Micro-structural and nano-technology, V22
Materials, metallurgy, V20 26
Chemical engineering, V23
Environmental technology, V24
Pharmaceuticals, V16
Basic materials chemistry, V19
Biotechnology, V15
Macromolecular chemistry, polymers, V17
Organic fine chemistry, V14
Surface technology, coating, V21
Audio-visual technology,V2
Computer technology, V6
Telecommunications, V3
Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy, V1
Digital communication, V4
Basic communication processes, V5
Semiconductors, V8
IT methods for management, V7
Control, V12
Optics, V9
Analysis of biological materials, V11
Medical technology, V13
Mechanical elements, V31
Transport, V32
Engines, pumps, turbines, V27
Handling, V25
Machine tools, V26
Thermal processes and apparatus, V30
Other special machines, V29
Textile and paper machines, V28
Furniture, games, V33
Civil engineering, V35
Other consumer goods, V34

8. Technology embeddedness
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
160,000
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Patents
Years
The patents granted
to different technology sectors
Chemistry
Electrical
engineering Instruments
Mechanical
engineering Other ?elds
Other Fields

9. Technology embeddedness
Chemistry
Electrical
engineering Instruments
Mechanical
engineering Other ?elds
Other Fields
MDS
analysis

10. Technology brokerage
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Other fields
(OTF)
Mechanical
engineering
(MEE)
Instruments
(INS)
Electrical
engineering
(ELE)
Chemistry
(CHE)

11. Technology brokerage
and Innovation
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Other fields (OTF)
Mechanical
engineering (MEE)
Instruments (INS)
Electrical
engineering (ELE)
Chemistry (CHE)
Internal
External Endogenous
Exogenous
Heterogeneous
Internal
External
External
External
External
Heterogeneous
Heterogeneous

12. Internal
External
Brokerage strategy
Chemistry
Electrical engineering
Instruments
Mechanical engineering
Other fields

13. Technological ecology

14. Interdisciplinarity
Transdisciplinarity
Fusion
Convergence
Hybridization
cross-disciplinarity
More than
“INTEGRATION”
but also…
Several labels are used to
describe this phenomenon
Technology
embeddedness

15. Explore
the innovative fulcrums of
patented technology
a perspective of technology embeddedness
Q&A
Hung-Chun Huang Ph.D.
National Chi Nan University,
TAIWAN
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