Technology Fusion Characteristics in the Solar Photovoltaic Industry of South Korea: A Patent Network Analysis Using IPC Co-Occurrence

Sungho Son and Nam-Wook Cho
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Sungho Son: Electricity Policy Research Center, Korea Electro-technology Research Institute (KERI), 138 Naesonsoonhwan-ro, Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi-do 16029, Korea
Nam-Wook Cho: Industrial and Information Systems Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology (SEOUL TECH), 232 Gongneung-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01811, Korea

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 21, 1-19

Abstract: This study analyzes the technology fusion phenomena and its characteristics, focusing on the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry in South Korea. Co-occurrence networks of international patent classification (IPC) codes have been analyzed based on the photovoltaic patents in South Korea during a 15-year period (2002–2016). The results reveal that, while the strength of technology fusion has greatly increased during the period, the structural pattern of fusion has been diversified or decentralized. In the early stage, widespread emergence of new technologies has been observed but, in the later stage, the focus of fusion shifted to the utilization of existing technologies. The characteristics of key technologies also changed as the technology fusion progressed. In the early stage, product technologies such as materials and components played a central role, while operation technologies such as monitor, structure, and arrangement were the drivers of fusion during the later stage.

Keywords: solar photovoltaic industry; technology fusion; international patent classification (IPC) code co-occurrence; social network analysis; exploration and exploitation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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