Prague Economic Papers 2015, 24(4):399-415 | DOI: 10.18267/j.pep.544

Knowledge Relatedness and Knowledge Space Based on EPO Patents

Jana Vlčková1, Nikola Kaspříková2
1 Faculty of International Relations, University of Economics, Prague, Czech Republic (jana.vlckova@vse.cz).
2 Faculty of Informatics and Statistics, University of Economics, Prague, Czech Republic, (nikola.kasprikova@vse.cz).

How is knowledge distributed over space and how are different types of knowledge related? These questions have so far received little attention. In this paper we measure knowledge relatedness based on the relationship between individual patent categories by using coclassification information obtained from EPO patents. We also follow specialization of countries and its evolution over the past three decades. We focus on the EU, the United States and China. The objective of this paper is to identify the knowledge relatedness between technological fields and to map knowledge produced in selected countries. For visualization of knowledge relatedness network analysis has been used.

Keywords: patents, knowledge relatedness, knowledge space, network analysis, EPO patents, technological advantage
JEL classification: D83, O30, R12

Published: January 1, 2015  Show citation

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Vlčková, J., & Kaspříková, N. (2015). Knowledge Relatedness and Knowledge Space Based on EPO Patents. Prague Economic Papers, 24(4), 399-415. doi: 10.18267/j.pep.544
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