Patent Statistics for Technology Analysis

Technology analysis is to analyze technology by qualitative and quantitative approaches. This is important issue in management of technology (MOT) because the result of technology analysis is used for efficient R&D planning. In this paper, we propose novel approach to technology analysis by patent statistics. We retrieve patent documents related to target technology, and analyze the retrieved patent data by statistical methods such as visualization and modeling. To verify the performance of our research, we perform a case study using patent data for target domain. Our study contributes to R&D planning, new product development, and technological innovation. Technology is significant cause of social change (1). Also society changes need new technology for development and evolution. So to understand technology is important for company and nation to get their competitiveness. In this paper, we consider technology analysis as an approach to know technology. Many researches have been published for technology analysis. They were based on qualitative and quantitative methodologies such as Delphi, TRIZ, and statistics (2-7). Most qualitative methods for technology analysis were depended on the experts' knowledge of target technology (8, 9). These could be subjective because they were brought from diverse experience of domain experts. So the performance of qualitative approaches could fluctuate by technology specialist. Another approach of technology analysis is based on quantitative methodology. These considered statistical analysis methods such as clustering, Bayesian, and regression (10-12). In addition, they used patent documents for technology analysis instead of expert's knowledge in qualitative methodology. The researches related to quantitative technology analysis have been on the rise because of developing of big data techniques. We propose a novel method of technology analysis by patent statistics. Patent statistics has been considered in economic areas such as OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) (13, 14). Also this could be an efficient approach for patent analysis (15). We study new approach of patent statistics for technology analysis in this paper. In addition, we apply advanced statistical methods to patent statistics in technology analysis. To show how our research is applied to real problem, we will perform a case study using patent data related to target technology.