Technology Roadmapping Approach Based on Engineering Science, Technology Knowledge Graph, and Expert Interaction

Technology roadmapping is an effective strategic management method. However, in making and implementing science and technology innovation policies in reality, there is a problem of relying solely on experts’ prior knowledge and lack posterior knowledge in objective data. The problem may cause subjective bias, which disconnects technology foresight, national strategic planning, and action plan. Researchers try to analyze and visualize technical information to support expert discussions, to realize the benefits of combining of data analysis and expert knowledge. However, there is still a problem that data analysis and experts are independent of each other, and it is difficult to effectively support experts. Knowledge graphs provide a way to efficiently manage and utilize massive amounts of information. They display structured technical information graphically, helping experts locate and acquire knowledge accurately. A process to support expert interaction via technology roadmapping, guided by the technical knowledge graph is proposed in this chapter. This process guides the effective interaction between experts and data through the technical knowledge graph, which can improve the quality of data analysis and enhance the foresight ability of experts. The process of multiple interactions helps to better connect expert knowledge and the objective principles and laws of technological development, and enhances the scientific basis and accuracy of technology roadmapping. This research takes the intelligent machine tool industrial sector as a case study through expert discussion to verify the effectiveness of the technology roadmapping developing process. This approach provides important support for national-level technology roadmapping development. Using the technology knowledge graph to guide interaction between experts and data analysis results periodically throughout the process reduces subjective bias and information loss in technology foresight. The process effectively connects expert knowledge with objective principles and laws of technology development by means of interaction, and powerfully supports national strategic planning and policy implementation via technology roadmapping.