Assessing the innovation capability of EU companies in developing dual use technologies

This study proposes a framework to identify and analyse the European defence innovation ecosystem and to investigate the relevance of dual use inventions, extending previous empirical approaches. 63,714 defence inventions in the decade 2002-2012 were analysed by taking several dimensions into consideration: time, geography, technology, type of innovator. The main findings indicate an increasing trend of patented inventions covering a wide range of technological fields not only in the traditional defence areas, but also in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and in instruments for measurement and control. The innovations seem to be quite concentrated: the twenty largest patent holders (firms and government agencies) account for 40% of total defence inventions. The largest geographical source of innovations is the USA, but South Korea has increased significantly in recent years. Dual use innovations, i.e. military patents subsequently cited by a civilian invention, are identified using a novel method employing patent citations. The proportion of dual use inventions in the whole dataset is 41%, but the value has been decreasing in recent years and shows heterogeneity across technological sectors and geographical areas (the USA reports the highest share, 63.9%). Analysis of knowledge flows suggests significant heterogeneity in the share of intra-border innovations: the European defence innovations are largely cited by US inventions, especially when considering dual use cases.JRC.B.3-Territorial Developmen

Technology Forecasting of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Technologies through Hierarchical S Curves

This study aims to propose a technology forecasting approach based on hierarchical S-curves. The proposed approach uses holistic forecasting by evaluating the S-curves of sub-technologies as well as the main technology under concern. A case study of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies is conducted to demonstrate how the proposed approach works in practice. This is the first study that applies hierarchical S-curves to technology forecasting of unmanned aerial vehicle technologies in the literature. The future trend of the UAV technologies is analysed in detail through a hierarchical S-curve approach. Hierarchical S-curves are also utilised to investigate the sub-technologies of the UAV. In addition, the technology development life cycle of technology is assessed by using the three indexes namely, (1) the current technological maturity ratio (TMR), (2) estimating the number of potential patents that could be granted in the future (PPA), and (3) forecasting the expected remaining life (ERL). The results of this study indicate that the UAV technologies and their sub-technologies are at the growth stage in the technology life cycle, and most of the developments in UAV technology will have been completed by 2048. Hence, these technologies can be considered emerging technologies

Effects of knowledge spillovers between competitors on patent quality: what patent citations reveal about a global duopoly

This paper analyses the effects on patent quality of a type of spillovers arising from the disclosure of patent information by firms engaged in competition in a global duopoly. Both firms are involved in producing new technologies and they do not cooperate on joint patents. In this context, we explored whether the disclosure of crucial knowledge in the patents of one of the firms affects the patent quality of its respective competitor. The empirical methodology relies on forward citations as an indicator of quality, and backward citations to the competitor as a measure of spillovers. We estimated several count models with a sample of 7750 patent families (divided into subsamples) owned by two large companies, Airbus and Boeing. Our econometric findings show that, for technologies in which the two firms account for the majority of the global patents, neither of the firms in the duopoly was able to harness spillovers from the rival to improve the quality of its patents. However, knowledge from the competitor becomes relevant, at least for one of the focal firms, in explaining patent quality of other technologies in which the two firms do not exert a dominant position.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness [Grant Number ECO2016-79436-R], [AEI/FEDER/UE]. Previous versions of the paper were presented at the 2018 Technology Transfer Society Annual Conference (Valencia), the 2019 International Open and User Innovation Conference (Utretcht), and the 2019 annual International Conference on Economics and Security (Madrid). The authors express their thanks to colleagues at these conferences for their helpful suggestions. The authors are also very grateful to two anonymous reviewers for their constructive and insightful comments

The diffusion of energy technologies. Evidence from renewable, fossil, and nuclear energy patents

Technology innovation is widely recognised as a critical means in tackling climate change and fulfilling energy policy objectives. The objective of this paper is twofold: first, to provide a descriptive analysis of innovation in energy technology across countries and sectors and over time; and second, to explore the determining factors of patented knowledge diffusion of energy technologies by distinguishing between renewables and other energy patents, i.e., fossil and nuclear patents) thorough a regression analysis. The data employed in this paper consists of an original database on renewables and other energy patents applied by firms in the period 1990–2015 and contained in PATSTAT. By drawing on patent citations as an indicator of knowledge diffusion and focusing on characteristics extracted from patent documents, a set of econometric models is estimated. Our results show that those patents containing more citations to previous scientific literature and patents attain greater diffusion. Joint patents with other firms or universities exert a negligible effect on technology regarding renewables. Coownership with universities has a negative effect on the diffusion of other types of energy technology. Several policy implications can be determined from our results: for example, the justification for policies oriented towards enhancing the incorporation of scientific knowledge and co-inventorship in energy innovation

Technology transfer and defence sector dynamics:the case of the Netherlands

State defence and security policies rely mostly on their military capabilities. The latter are ensured through research and development (R&D) as well as procurement, which are subject to defence industry dynamics. Furthermore the defence sector is heavily dependent on public funds; the latter can be more easily allocated if related R&D has a spill-over effect on the civilian sector, creating the potential for a bigger and more globally (or regionally) integrated market. This article investigates, then, how technology moves, and whether defence sector innovations create spin-offs in the civilian sector in the Netherlands. We aim to provide an industry-centred perspective on defence sector dynamics and potentials. For this, the article attempts to answer the following questions: Are defence technologies transferred to the civilian sector? What lessons can be derived from the Dutch case? To address these research puzzles the article’s theoretical framework builds on the technology-transfer literature in analysing the case study of the Netherlands. The basis for this is 23 interviews with representatives of Dutch defence companies that were carried out both in a workshop and in one-to-one settings in May and June 2020

Tribological Comparison of Traditional and Advanced Firearm Coatings

The objective of this project is to find which type of coating has the best performance characteristics for finishing firearms. This is accomplished by measuring and comparing several performance characteristics, such as: adhesion, hardness, wear resistance, friction control, and corrosion resistance. Appearance is not a factor since any exterior coating that is flashy can be subdued or camouflaged with special purpose paints, which have proven durable enough for such purposes. Cost will not be a limiting factor for this experiment, but will be discussed in the conclusion as a secondary concern. This data will be used to identify the best coating for steel and aluminum firearm parts. The goal is to lengthen a firearm’s life cycle while increasing performance and reliability by applying the best coating

Патентний ландшафт як інструмент прогнозування світових технологічних трендів: сфера озброєння та військової техніки

У статті подано методику визначення перспективних напрямів технологічного розвитку сфери озброєння та військової техніки на засадах патентного аналізу.В работе представлена методика определения перспективных направлений технологического развития сферы вооружения и военной техники на основе патентного анализа.The method of determination of perspective directions of technological development of the field of armaments and military equipment on the basis of patent analysis is presented in the work

Lectures on Atomic Energy Industrial and Legal Problems

Since 1948 the University of Michigan Law School has, as a part of its program of public service, sponsored a series of Summer Institutes, intended to provide a medium for high-level discussions of important problems in areas of public concern. The Institutes held in previous years are as follows: The First Summer Institute, July 15-23, 1948, Current Problems in International Law The Second Summer Institute, August 5-21, 1949, Legal Problems of World Trade The Third Summer Institute, June 26-July 1, 1950, The Law and Labor-Management Relations The Fourth Summer Institute, June 25-28, 1951, Taxation of Business Enterprise The Fifth Summer Institute, held June 26, 27, and 28, 1952, was devoted to the industrial and legal problems arising in connection with peacetime utilization of atomic energy. Both lectures and panel discussions were arranged in order to emphasize specific problems. The Institute was planned primarily to serve executives and legal counsel of businesses which are engaged, or expect to be engaged, in activity involving atomic energy developments. Without attempting to reproduce the Institute proceedings in full, this volume makes available the papers which were presented dealing with atomic energy and its utilization, together with a limited portion of the panel discussions.https://repository.law.umich.edu/summer_institute/1003/thumbnail.jp